JOURNAL 

II 


PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


OP  THE 

DIOCESE  OF  MISSISSIPPI; 

HELD  AT  THE  CITY  OF  VICKSBURO, 

TIlrRSDAY,  MAY  7,  1810. 


JACKSON; 

PRINTED  AT  THE  SOUTHRON  OFFICE. 


1846 


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JOURNAL  OF  PROCEEDINGS. 


City  of  Vicksburg,  ) 
Thursday^  May  7,  1846.  ^ 

This  day,  being  the  day  appointed  by  the  Bishop  for  the 
meeting  of  the  Special  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episco¬ 
pal  Church,  in  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi,  and  several  of  the 
clergy  and  laity  being  assembled,  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
Otey,  called  the  assembly  to  order,  and  nominated  the  Rev. 
F.  W.  Boyd,  Secretary  pro  tem.;  when  the  roll  furnished  by 
the  Bishop,  of  clergymen  entitled  to  seats  in  the  Convention^ 
was  read  as  follows,  to-wit : 

Rev.  F.  W .  Boyd; 

“  N.  W.  Camp,  D.  D.,  Missionary  at  Yazoo  City  ; 

“  D.  H.  Deacon,  Rector  St.  Mary’s  church,  Laurel  Hill; 
“  J.  S.  Greene,  Missionary  at  Mississippi  City; 

“  W.  F.  Halsey,  Rector  St.  Paul’s  church,  Columbus; 
“  A.  Matthews,  Missionary  in  DeSoto  county  ; 

“  A.  P.  Merrill,  Missionary  at  Port  Gibson; 

“  D.  C.  Page,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  Christ  church.  Holly 
Springs ; 

“  S.  Patterson,  Rector  of  Christ  church,  Vicksburg : 

“  W.  Presbury,  Missionary  in  Washington  county. 

LIST  OF  OTHER  CLERGYMEN  BELONGING  TO  THE  DIOCESE, 
BUT  NOT  ENTITLED  TO  SEATS  : 

Rev*  A.  Cleaver,  residing  in  Jackson  ; 

“  J.  A.  Fox,  residing  in  Louisiana  ; 

“  W\  M.  Giles,  (Deacon,)  Missionary  at  Washington 
and  Woodville  ; 


Southern  Pamphlets 
Pare  Book  Collection 
UNC-Chapel  Hill 


592086 


(4) 

Rev.  W.  T.  Loacockj  residing  in  Kentucky; 

“  S.  Wall,  (Deacon,)  residing  in  Louisiana; 

“  D.  F.  Wright,  (Deacon,)  residing  in  Holly  Springs  ; 
Wilie  Peck,  officiating  in  Trinity  church,  Natchez. 

PARISHES  IN  UNION  WITH  THE  CONVENTION  : 

St.  Paul’s  church,  Woodville  ; 

St.  Mary’s  church.  Laurel  Hill; 

Trinity  church,  Natchez ; 

Christ  church,  Jefferson  county  ; 

Church  of  Epiphany,  Claiborne  county; 

Christ  church,  Vicksburg ; 

St.  Andrew’s  church,  Jackson  ; 

St.  Paul’s  church,  Columbus ; 

St.  Andrew’s  church,  Marshall  county  ; 

Christ  church,  Holly  Springs  : 

St.  John’s  church,  Pontotoc  ; 

St.  Paul’s  church.  Grand  Gulf. 

Lay  delegates  then  presented  credentials  from  the  follow¬ 
ing  Parishes : 

From  St.  Paul’s  church,  Woodville—Isaac  W.  Crane,  D.  H. 
Prosser. 

Trinity  church,  Natchez — Edward  Turner,  Geo.  W. 
Turner,  Geo.  Winchester. 

‘‘  Church  of  the  Epiphany,  Claiborne  county — Edw.  H. 

Stiles,  M.  D.  and  Edw.  A.  McCaleb. 

“  Christ  church,  Vicksburg— Geo.  S.  Yerger,  B.  S.  Tap- 
pan,  VV.  A.  Lake. 

“  St.  Andrew’s  church,  Jackson — Charles  A.  Bradford. 
“  St.  John’s  church,  Pontotoc — Edward  Fontaine  ; 
who  answered  to  their  names. 

Two  clergymen,  entitled  to  seats,  being  present,  and  dele- 
gates  from  six  parishes,  the  Convention  was  declared  to  be 
duly  organized,  and  competent  to  transact  business. 

On  motion,  duly  made  and  seconded,  the  Rt.  Rev.  B.  B. 


Smith,  D.  D.,  of  Kentucky,  being  present,  was  invited  to  at¬ 
tend  the  meetings  of  this  Convention  ;  and  a  place  was  as¬ 
signed  him  in  the  chancel  on  the  right  of  the  President. 

On  motion,  other  clergymen  of  the  church  present,  and 
not  entitled  to  seats,  were  invited  to  atttend  the  deliberations 
of  the  Conrention. 

The  rules  of  order  of  a  former  Convention,  were  then  read 
and  adopted,  as  the  rules  of  order  for  this  Convention. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned  until  4  o’clock,  p.  m. 

4  o’clock,  p.  m. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  Bishop,  and 
the  roll  called  by  the  Secretary,  whereupon  the  Rev.  IN.  W. 
Camp,  D.  D.,  of  Yazoo  City,  appeared  and  answered  to  his 
name  ;  P.  M.  Grant,  Esq.,  from  Columbus,  presented  his  cre¬ 
dential  as  a  lay  delegate  from  St.  Paul’s  church,  and  took  his 
seat;  Hon.  Robt.  Hughes  and  Thos.  Palmer,  appeared  as 
delegates  from  St.  Andrew’s  church,  Jackson,  and  answered 
to  their  names. 

On  motion,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  M.  Halsey, 
Judges  Turner  and  Winchester,  was  appointed,  to  consider 
the  application  of  newly  organized  parishes  for  union  with 
this  Convention,  and  papers  from  Yazoo  City  were  handed  to 
them. 

On  motion,  duly  made  and  seconded,  it  was  decided  that 
this  Convention  be  declared  competent  to  transact  all  and  any 
business  which  would  properly  have  fallen  to  the  regular  • 
Annual  Convention,  had  one  been  duly  convened. 

The  committee  on  new  churches,  reported  that  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  had  in  Yazoo  City,  contemplating  the  organization 
of  a  church  in  that  place,  were  substantially  in  accordance 
with  the  canon,  and  submitted  a  motion,  that  Trinity  church, 
Yazoo  City,  be  received  into  connexion  with  this  Diocese; 
which  motion  being  seconded,  was  adopted. 

On  motion,  duly  made  and  seconded,  a  committee  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  consider  the  claim  of  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Boyd,  to  a 


seat  and  vote  in  this  Convention,  his  name  having  been  placed 
by  the  Bishop  among  those  not  so  entitled. 

The  Bishop  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Presbury,  Dr.  Stiles, 
and  Mr.  Ewing,  the  committee. 

Mr.  Boyd  obtained  leave  to  retire  with  the  committee,  and 
Gen.  B.  S.  Tappan  was  appointed  Secretary  pro  tem,^  in  his 
stead. 

The  committee  returned  and  reported,  unanimously,  that 
the  Rev.  F.  W.  Boyd  has  a  right  to  a  seat  and  vote  in  this 
Convention. 

On  motion  to  accept  the  report,  some  discussion  took  place 
as  to  the  true  and  proper  construction  of  the  article  in  the 
constitution  affecting  the  case. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  to  postpone  the  further 
consideration  ot  the  subject  until  the  morning,  which  motion, 
after  discussion,  was  lost. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Rev.  F.  W. 
Boyd  be  allowed  to  address  the  Convention  in  explanation  ; 
which  motion  prevailed. 

After  further  discussion,  the  original  motion  to  accept  the 
report,  was  put,  and  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

The  amendment  ot  the  7th  article  of  the  constitution, 
which  was  proposed  in  the  Convention  of  1844,  was  then 
called  up  for  final  action,  but  it  appearing  that  the  committee 
to  whom  had  been  committed  the  subject  of  a  revision  of  the 
constitution  and  canons,  was  not  present  to  report,  the  whole 
subject  was,  by  consent,  withdrawn. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  then  adjourned,  to  meet  at  8 
o’clock,  A.  M.,  to-morrow. 

Friday  Morning,  May  8,  1846. 

The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Prayers 
were  read  by  the  Bishop.  The  minutes  ot  yesterday  were 
also  read  and  approved. 

The  roll  having  been  called,  delegates  appeared  from  St. 
Paul’s  church,  Grand  Gulf;  Christ  church,  Jefferson  county ; 


St.  Mary’s  church,  Laurel  Hill.  The  following  clergymen 
also  appeared  and  took  their  seats,  viz :  Rev.  D.  H.  Deacon, 
A.  P.  Merrill,  and  Wm.  M.  Giles. 

The  Bishop  read  his  Annual  Address  to  the  Convention, 
which  was  as  follows : 

Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity: 

The  Convention  of  the  Church  in  this  Diocese  having 
failed  to  meet  last  year  for  want  of  a  constitutional  quorum, 
it  results  that  we  have  before  us  at  this  time,  the  business  of 
two  whole  years  to  transact.  In  compliance  with  canonical 
provisions,  I  proceed  to  report  to  you  the  services  and  duties 
in  which  I  have  been  engaged  as  Provisional  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese,  and  to  call  your  attention  to  such  other  matters  of 
interest  as  may  seem  to  claim  your  attention.  To  this  end, 
I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  my  report  made  last  year,  and  intended 
to  be  laid  before  the  Convention  which  was  then  expected  to 
meet,  and  I  desire  that  that  report  be  read  by  the  Secretary, 
and  be  made  a  part  of  this  communication  on  the  printed 
journal  of  your  proeeedings. 

To  the  members  of  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Epis¬ 
copal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi^  assembled 

at  Jackson^  Mi.,  May  8,  A.  D.  1845  : 

Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity — 

Your  Convention,  by  appointment,  meets  this  year  on  the 
8th  day  of  May ;  and  the  Convention  of  the  church  in  Ten¬ 
nessee  meets  also,  by  appointment,  on  the  7th  of  the  same 
month.  For  two  years  successively,  I  used  the  authority  al¬ 
lowed  me  by  your  constitution  and  canons,  to  alter  the  times 
of  the  assembling  of  your  Convention,  in  order  that  I  might 
be  able  to  meet  the  Conventions  of  both  the  Dioceses  of 
which  1  have  charge.  The  proceedings  of  your  body  last 
year  in  electing  a  Bishop,  led  very  naturally  to  the  conclusion 
that  my  presence  among  you  would  not  be  again  called  for, 
and  consequently  all  my  arrangements  for  many  months  past, 
have  been  made  in  the  expectation  of  not  being  present  in 


(8) 

your  Convention  this  year.  The  duty  which  I  owe  to  the 
Diocese  of  Tennessee  to  be  present  at  her  Convention,  would 
prevent  my  meeting  with  you,  if  no  other  duties  and  engage¬ 
ments  interfered.  It  did  not  seem  to  me  that  there  existed  \ 
any  sufficient  reason  to  change  the  time  of  meeting  of  either 
Convention  the  present  year,  and  hence  no  notice  has  been 
given  to  that  effect. 

But  though  necessarily  absent  from  you,  brethren,  I  trust 
I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit,  in  ardent  desires  and  fervent 
prayers  for  the  prosperity  of  that  church  which  we  all  love, 
and  in  the  expression  of  the  hope  that  her  glorious  sway  may 
be  still  more  and  more  extended  to  the  overthrow  of  sin  and 
misery  among  men,  and  the  establishment  of  righteousness 
and  peace  over  all  the  earth.  These  meetings  of  brethren, 
united  as  we  should  be,  and  as  I  believe  we  axe  in  your 
Diocese,  “  in  the  same  mind  and  in  the  s^e  judgment,” 
upon  all  matters  affecting  the  interests  of  our  communion, 
are  always  occasions  of  the  purest  joy  and  satisfaction,  and  I 
feeljhatin  staying  away  from  your  assembly,  I  am  denying 
myself  one  ot  the  highest  pleasures  it  is  permitted  man  to 
enjoy  here  below. 

It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  know  that  whatever  duties 
belonging  peculiarly  to  the  office  of  a  Bishop,  which  may  be 
required  by  the  Convention,  will  be  discharged  by  nay  Rt. 
Rev.  Brother,  the  Missionary  Bishop  of  Arkansas,  &.c.  He 
has  kindly  yielded  to  my  request  to  visit  such  of  the  churches 
as  he  can  in  the  short  time  which  he  has  at  his  disposal,  and 
to  be  present  with  you  in  Convention.  I  feel  every  confi¬ 
dence  that  I  could  not  have  committed  your  affairs  to  abler 
or  more  faithful  hands.  I  know  you  will  receive  him  as  a 
“  messenger  of  the  church  and  an  Apostle  of  Christ,”  and  for 
his  own  sake,  no  less  than  mine,  you  will  “hold  him  in  re¬ 
putation.” 

My  report  to  the  last  Convention,  brought  the  detail  of  my 
official  services  as  Provisional  Bishop  of  Mississippi,  down  to 


the  4th  of  last  May.  On  the  evening  of  that  day,  I  con¬ 
firmed  at  Jackson,  persons. 

On  Sunday,  the  5th  day  of  May,  morning  prayer  was  said 
by  Dr.  Hawks,  after  which,  I  preached  and  celebrated  the 
Lord’s  supper,  with  the  assistance  of  the  clergy  present. 
About  sixty  persons  presented  themselves  to  receive  the  sym¬ 
bols  of  the  broken  body  and  shed  blood  of  Him  who  died  for 
the  sins  of  the  world.  At  night,  after  sermon  by  Dr.  Hawks, 
I  confirmed /owr  persons. 

In  the  morning,  I  baptized  two  infant  children,  Syme^  and 
Wni,  Alexander^  sons  of  Mr.  Cabell  and  his  wife,  Elvira  A. 
B.  Cabell.  I  have  performed  no  Episcopal  services  in  Mis¬ 
sissippi  since  that  time,  having  been  engaged  for  much  the 
greater  portion  of  the  period  since  in  matters  connected  with 
the  general  interests  of  our  whole  communion,  and  which 
made  it  necessary  for  me  to  spend  four  or  five  months  from 
home. 

It  is  doubtless  known  to  every  member  of  your  body  that 
the  effort  to  complete  the  ecclesiastical  organization  of  tho 
Diocese,  by  the  election  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  to  the  Epis¬ 
copate,  failed  in  consequence  of  objections  raised  against  that 
distinguished  individual  in  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies  of  the  General  Convention.  These  objections  in¬ 
volved  charges  of  a  serious  character,  aflecting  the  integrity 
and  moral  standing  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  An  opportunity  was 
given  to  him  to  meet  and  reply  to  these  charges,  which  he  did 
in  a  way  so  satisfactory  to  the  House  of  Deputies,  that  they 
passed  a  resolution  to  this  effect : 

That  in  the  opinion  of  this  House,  the  integrity  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  has  been  satisfactorily  vindicated,  in  his  re¬ 
ply  and  .proofs  in  relation  to  the  charge  brought  against  him 
in  the  memorial  presented  to  this  House.” 

The  following  resolutions  were  subsequently  passed,  viz : 

“  Resolved^  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  House,  all  pro¬ 
ceedings  respecting  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Francis  L, 
Hawks,  D,  D.,  ought  to  be  suspended,  until  a  future  Conven- 


(10) 

tion  of  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi  shall  declare  their  sense  of 
the  subject. 

“  Resolved^  That  all  the  documents  now  before  this  House 
relating  to  the  same,  be  delivered  to  the  Deputies  from  Mis¬ 
sissippi,  to  be  laid  before  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of 
Mississippi.” — (Jour.  Gen.  Conv.  pp.  71  and  72. 

The  documents  above  referred  to  having  been  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Mississippi  delegation,  and  also  addressed  to  the 
President  of  the  Standing  Committee,  with  a  view  to  their 
being  brought  before  the  notice  of  your  Convention,  I  deem 
it  unnecessary  to  remark  upon  their  character  or  tenor.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  has  since  been  transferred  to  the  Diocese  of 
Louisiana,  and  it  is  understood  that  he  left  Mississippi  with 
the  determination  not  to  permit  his  name  again  to  be  brought 
forward  for  the  office  of  Bishop  in  your  Diocese. 

it  is  for  your  body  in  its  wisdom  to  decide  what  action,  if 
any,  it  will  take  in  the  premises.  I  shall  be  pardoned,  I  hope, 
for  expressing  the  opinion  that  the  final  action  of  the  House 
of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  was  a  shrinking  from  a  responsi¬ 
bility  which  was  fairly  devolved  upon  it — or  perhaps  it  would 
be  more  charitable  and  equally  just  to  say,  that  it  was  to  get 
rid  of  a  troublesome  and  annoying  subject,  and  to  throw  back 
responsibility  upon  others,  who  were  more  deeply  interested 
m  the  election  of  Dr.  Hawks,  than  the  members  of  that 
House,  but  whose  opportunities  for  examining  into  the  parth 
cular  objections  raised  against  him,  were  necessarily  limited 
and  imperfect.  There  was  the  place,  and  then  was  the  time, 
where  and  when  a  full  and  final  decision  should  have  been 
made  about  this  matter.  The  Diocese  of  Mississippi  might 
elect  to  the  Episcopate  time  and  again,  under  the  same  cir¬ 
cumstances,  and  the  election  must  of  necessity  be  confirmed 
by  the  House  of  Deputies,  or  by  those  bodies  which  repre¬ 
sent  them  for  this  purpose,  in  the  recess  of  the  General  Con¬ 
vention,  viz:  the  Standing  Committee.  The  course  of  the 
House  was  objectionable,  i  think,  because  the  constitution 
and  canons  do  not  provide  for  any  such  course  of  proceeding, 


and  because  especially  such  course  of  action  is  calculated  to 
embarrass  and  dishearten  a  weak  and  infant  Diocese. 

Of  the  wants  of  the  Diocese  in  regard  to  Episcopal  super¬ 
vision,  I  presume  that  there  exists  among  iis  but  one  senti- 
nrent,  and  that  is,  that  you  should  have  a  resident  Bishop  at 
the  earliest  practicable  moment.  The  history  of  all  oiir 
Dioceses,  I  believe,  shows  that  direct  and  immediate  Episco¬ 
pal  supervision  is  necessary  to  their  growth  and  vigor,  and 
that  wherever  this  has  been  secured,  there  has  been  witnessed 
an  increase  in  the  number,  union  and  piety  of  our  members. 
My  views  and  wishes  upon  this  subject,  are  too  well  known, 
and  have  been  too  frequently  expressed,  publicly  and  pri¬ 
vately,  to  need  repetition.  But  I  feel  more  solicitous  upon 
the  subject  now,  from  a  conviction  pressing  upon  me  every 
day,  that  my  engagements  and  necessary  duties  at  home  will 
not  allow  me  to  devote  to  the  visitation  of  Mississippi,  even 
the  small  portion  of  time  which  1  have  hitherto  given  to  that 
object.  Trusting,  then,  that  you  can  be  united  in  your 
choice  of  a  suitable  person,  and  that  you  will  be  able  to  pro¬ 
vide  for  his  comfortable  support,  that  he  may  work  much  and 
vigorously,  I  earnestly  recommend  the  measure.  Yet,  while 
thus  exhorting  you  to  a  good  work,  suffer  me  to  interpose  a 
word  of  friendly,  yea,  paternal  caution.  The  events  of  the 
last  year,  in  the  history  of  our  church,  emphatically  admon¬ 
ish  us  to  be  more  than  ordinarily  prudent  and  circumspect  in 
the  choice  of  persons  whom  we  select  for  the  high  and  holy 
office  of  a  Bishop.  Too  rigid  a  scrutiny  as  to  soundness  in 
faith,  purity  of  moral  character,  and  firmness  of  purpose  to 
live  a  holy  and  godly  life,  in  all  righteousness  and  good  con¬ 
versation  before  God  and  men,  cannot  be  instituted  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  any  individual  who  may  be  proposed  to  you,  and 
who,  by  your  action,  is  to  be  intrusted  with  the  dearest  and 
most  valuable  interests  ever  committed  to  the  guardianship  of 
any  mortal.  Those  only  who  are  invested  with  this  office, 
sufficiently  realize  its  difficulties  and  its  responsibilities,  and 
by  the  constantly  recurring  sense  of  their  failure  in  duty~of 


their  imperfections  and  weaknesses,  are  led  to  consider,  more 
than  other  men,  how  much  faith,  and  zeal,  and  charity,  and 
diligence,  and  prudence,  and  devotion  of  heart,  and  know¬ 
ledge,  and  wisdom,  are  requisite  in  order  to  the  creditable 
and  useful  discharge  of  its  functions.  When  you  have  found 
the  individual  who  combines  all  the  required,  or  at  least,  all 
the  necessary  qualifications,  then  place  him  in  circumstances 
enabling  him  to  fulfil  his  ministry  with  efficiency  and  com¬ 
fort.  Do  not  let  the  reproach  come  upon  your  Diocese  of 
calling  one  to  serve  you,  and  then  leave  him  to  the  dole  of 
compassion  and  charity,  and  to  the  fruits  of  some  secular 
pursuit  for  the  supply  of  his  necessary  wants.  The  great 
Lord  of  the  harvest,  the  ever  blessed  head  of  the  church, 
hath  said, the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.”  Let  the  pro¬ 
vision  you  make  for  the  support  of  the  Episcopate  be  liberal — 
let  it  show  that  you  reverence  the  saying  of  our  Divine 
Master,  and  you  will  assuredly  reap  a  full  and  rich  reward 
in  the  abundant  and  successful  labors  of  him  who  shall  be 
“  over  you  in  the  Lord.”  Most  earnestly  do  I  beseech  God 
our  Heavenly  Father  to  guide  and  direct  you  in  this  most 
important  matter. 

The  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the  Diocese  since 
my  last  address,  as  these  respect  the  residence  of  clergymen^ 
are  as  follows :  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  has  taken  dimissory 
letters  to  the  Bishop  of  Louisiana,  and  becomes  the  Rector, 
as  it  is  understood,  of  Christ  Church,  New  Orleans.  The. 
congregation  of  Christ  Church,  Holly  Springs,  I  learn, 
though  not  officially,  is  without  a  pastor.  I  have  heard  that 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Foster,  who  was  instituted  Rector,  had  resio-ned 
his  pastoral  charge  and  engaged  in  teaching,  having  under 
his  care  a  large  and  interestinof  female  school.  It  appears  to 
me  that,  in  the  case  of  the  resignation  of  parishes,  the  Bishop, 
or  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  should,  in  every  in¬ 
stance,  be  officially  advised  of  that  fact,  by  the  Secretary, 
\varden,  or  some  Vestryman  of  the  Parish.  Such  is  the 
usual  practice,  and  it  would  be  proper,  I  think,  that  you 


should  have  a  canon  to  that  effect;  otherwise,  it  will  often 
happen  that  it  will  be  difficult  to  know  who  are  members  of 
the  Convention,  or  invested  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  parochial  and  diocesan  residence. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Killikelly  has  taken  letters  of  dimission  to 
Bishop  Kemper,  and  retired  from  the  station  at  Grand  Gulf. 
The  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Leacock,  whom  I  reported  as  transferred 
to  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi,  and  who  had  taken  charge  of  a 
congregation  formed  near  Lake  Washington,  in  Washington 
county,  has,  .1  learn,  removed  from  Mississippi,  and  settled  in 
charge  of  a  school  near  Louisville,  Ky.  I  have  received  no 
communication  from  him,  and  know  not  what  his  wishes 
may  he  in  regard  to  a  change  of  his  canonical  residence.  1 
still  consider  him  as  a  clergyman  of  Mississippi. 

The  Rev.  A.  P.  Merrill  has  been  appointed  missionary  to 
the  slave  population  in  the  neighborhood  of  Port  Gibson,  and 
I  learn  from  himself,  is  laboring  with  encouraging  indica¬ 
tions  and  fruits  of  usefulness.  Mr.  Merrill  has  intimated  a 
readiness  to  divide  his  labors  between  Grand  Gulf,  Port  Gib¬ 
son,  and  his  present  charge.  However  praiseworthy  the 
promptings  of  his  zeal  to  widen  the  sphere  of  his  ministerial 
labors,  I  have  not  deemed  it  advisable  to  authorize  any  change 
in  his  services,  or  to  direct  him  to  go  to  any  other  than  those 
to  whom  he  has  been  sent.  The  missionary  appropriation  in 
his  case,  was  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  negroes,  and  it 
seems,  therefore,  that  as  long  as  he  draws  upon  that  fund,  his 
services  on  Sunday,  at  least,  should  be  devoted  to  the  slaves. 
It  must  be  matter  of  rejoicing  to  us  all  that  his  services  have 
proved  so  acceptable,  and,  as  I  judge,  so  profitable  to  this  in¬ 
teresting  portion  of  our  population. 

i  have  recently,  at  the  request  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  Andrew’s 
church,  near  Salem,  in  Marshall  county,  appointed  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Litton,  of  the  Diocese  of  Tennessee,  missionary  to  the 
station.  He  will  officiate  monthly.  It  appears  to  be  the  most 
convenient,  if  not  the  only  arrangement,  which  can  be  made 
at  present  for  the  supply  of  that  congregation.  The  Rev. 


Mr.  Crane  has  resiirned  the  Paris!)  of  St.  Paul’s,  at  Woodville, 
and  accepted  a  call  to  the  charge  of  Trinity  church,  Clarks¬ 
ville,  Tenn.  The  congregation  at  Woodville,  you  are  aware, 
probably,  was  afflicted  during  the  last  summer  and  fall  with 
a  grievous  and  fatal  sickness.  Besides  the  loss  of  many  of 
its  most  valuable  members  by  death,  it  has  been,  or  is  likely 
soon  to  be,  further  weakened  by  the  removal  of  some  of  the 
most  efficient  supporters  of  the  church  ;  so  that  the  prospects 
of  this  old  and  interesting  Parish,  are  indeed  gloomy.  In 
man’s  extremity  is  the  Lord’s  time  to  help  ;  and  to  Him  must 
we  look  to  stir  up  the  spirit  of  some  faithful  minister,  who 
will  corneas  a  messenger  of  consolation,  to  restore' the  deso¬ 
lations  of  this  Parish. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  Matthews  has  recently  requested  to  he 
re-appointed  missionary  at  Hernando  and  neighborhood. 
Expecting  that  the  oversight  of  the  Diocese  would  soon  pass 
into  other  hands,  and  not  understanding  that  there  was  much 
reason  to  encourage  one  to  effort  in  that  quarter,  I  deemed  it 
most  proper  to  defer  any  action  in  the  premises,  and  leave  the 
whole  matter  to  the  decision  of  him  who  is  to  succeed  me.  I 
have  heard  that  the  Rev.  Mr,  Presbury  was  laboring  with  en¬ 
couraging  prospects  of  success  at  Yazoo  City,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Fish,  at  Christ  church,  .Tefferson  county.  No  communi¬ 
cation  from  these  brethren,  nor  from  any  other  quarter,  has 
notifled  me  of  their  wish  or  intention  to  become  canonically 
resident  in  Mississippi. 

It  is  with  great  sorrow  of  heart  that  I  report  to  you  the 
decease  of  our  Rev.  Brother,  Mr.  John  Henshaw,  who  had 
been  laboring  for  nearly  a  year  past  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Macon,  in  the  eastern  parr,  of  the  Diocese.  His  removal  was 
sudden,  and  attended  by  distressing  circumstances.  On  Sun¬ 
day,  the  30th  of  March,  he  had  preached  at,  or  near  a  place 
called  Brooklyn,  some  ten  or  twel  ve  miles  from  Macon.  The 
next  day,  returning  to  Macon,  he  had  to  cross  a  small  stream 
which  had  been  swollen  by  recent  rams.  Entering  the  creek 
at  an  unfavorable  or  difficult  ford,  and  alone,  it  is  supposed 


(15) 

that  he  was  by  some  mishap  thrown  from  his  horse,  and  being 
iame,  was  unable  to  make  the  shore.  Several  hours  elapsed 
before  any  suspicions  were  excited  as  to  his  safety.  After 
diligent  search,  his  body  was  found  the  next  day,  near  to  the 
spot  where  it  is  supposed  he  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  and 
decently  interred;  and,  no  doubt,  his  grave  was  watered  by 
the  tears  of  some  whom  lie  liad  striven  to  lead  in  the  way  to 
Heaven.  With  little  to  attract  the  admiring  gaze  ot  the 
world,  unaffectedly  modest  in  his  deportment,  and  simple  as 
a  child  in  his  manners,  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  deeply  pious 
and  devoted  servant  of  Christ.  He  was  most  anxious  to  be 
instrumental  in  saving  the  souls  of  men,  and  he  was  willing 
to  make  any  sacrifice  of  personal  ease  and  comfort,  and  to 
submit  to  almost  any  mortification,  in  order  that  he  might 
leach  men  to  know  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  God  hath 
sent.  For  nearly  a  year  past,  he  had  exercised  his  ministry 
under  circumstances  of  discouragement — such  as  the  neglect 
or  indifference  of  those  for  whose  spiritual  benefit  he  was 
expending  his  time  and  strength — that  fall  to  the  lot  of  few 
men.  This  minister  of  God  could  find  no  place  at  which  to 
board,  except  a  tavern,  among  those  to  whom  he  came  to  pro¬ 
claim  the  grace  of  that  Master  who,  though  he  was  rich,  be¬ 
came  poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might  be  made  rich  ; 
and  often  when  he  had  prepared  out  of  his  treasures  things 
both  new  and  old  for  those  invited  to  the  gospel  feast,  has  he 
been  pained  and  mortified  to  find  only  two  or  three  present. 
The  multitude  had  gone  after  some  loud  and  self-confident 
and  self-constituted  teacher — some  proclaimer  of  a  new 
faith — some  declaimer  against  all  sects,  and  the  unblushing 
advocate  of  his  own  system,  as  the  truth  of  God  and  the 
unerring  way  to  Heaven,  The  trials  and  mortifications  of 
our  brother  are  over ;  he  has  finished  his  course  in  faith,  and 
doubtless  entered  upon  his  reward,  through  the  mercy  and 
grace  of  that  blessed  Redeemer  who  called  him  to  work  in 
his  church,  and  has  now  summoned  him  to  higher  duties  in 
his  kingdom  of  glory. 


I  beg  leave'oiice  more  most  earnestly  to  urge  upon  the  at¬ 
tention  of  every  member  of  the  Convention,  and  through  the 
Convention  upon  the  whole  Diocese,  the  duty  of  making  sta¬ 
led  and  liberal  contributions  in  aid  of  our  missionary  work. 
We  must  be  criminally  insensible  and  indifferent,  as  well  to 
the  claims  of  others  as  to  the  calls  of  duty,  if  we  give  no 
heed  to  the  earnest  and  urgent  appeals  which  have  been  re¬ 
peatedly  made  to  us  upon  the  subject.  I  fear  that  our  breth¬ 
ren  of  the  clergy  are  blameworthy  in  this  matter  in  not  call¬ 
ing  the  attention  of  the  people  to  this  duty,  and  thereby 
affording  them  the  op'portunity^  as  they  ought  to  regard  it  a 
privilege,  to  give  in  this  noble  cause.  It  cannot  be  there  is 
want  of  ability  on  the  part  of  our  lay  brethren  ;  “  for  if  there 
be  first  a  willing  mind,  it  is  accepted  according  to  that  a  man 
hath,  and  not  according  to  that  he  hath  not.”  Let  us  give  of 
oiir  ability  as  God  hath  prospered  us — nothing  more  is  ask¬ 
ed, — any  thing  more  than  this,  would  be  transcending  the 
limits  of  duty.  We  should  remember,  too,  that  the  Diocese 
has  partaken  largely  of  the  benefactions  of  the  church,  and 
we  should,  at  least,  show  our  gratitude  by  now  endeavoring 
to  help  ourselves — by  striving  to  aid  the  church  in  her  efforts 
to  send  the  ministry  to  all  our  waste  and  destitute  places.  If 
this  work  were  but  industriously  prosecuted  in  each  Parish, 
I  have  not  a  doubt  that  every  year  enough  would  be  realised 
to  double  annually  the  missionaries  employed  in  the  Diocese 
for  some  five  or  six  years  to  come  ;  and  what  a  glorious  re¬ 
sult  this  would  be  to  accomplish — how  creditable  to  the  libe¬ 
rality  of  the  Diocese,  and  how  acceptable,  we  may  believe, 
to  God  !  Brethren,  let  us  no  longer  give  occasion  for  re¬ 
proach  in  this  matter.  Let  us  do  our  duty,  and  then  we  may- 
look  for  God’s  blessing. 

The  only  candidate  belonging  to  this  Diocese  is,  with  my 
permission,  prosecuting  his  studies  at  one  of  our  Theological 
Seminaries.  The  individual  referred  to  is  Mr.  Wm.  Giles, 
who  will  in  due  time  present  himself  for  orders,  and  ,will,  I 
trust,  prove  an  able  and  efficient  co-worker  with  us,  in  the 


(17) 

large  and  interesting  field  which  Divine  Providence  has  as- 
signed  to  us  for  cultivation. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  detain  you  by  any  remarks  upon 
the  proceedings  of  the  late  General  Convention,  in  which 
the  Diocese  was  ably  represented.  Its  acts  have  been  spread 
upon  its  published  journal,  which  is  open  to  the  inspection 
of  all. 

The  6th  canon  of  the  late  General  Convention,  entitled, 
“  Of  a  discretion  to  be  allowed  in  the  calling,  trial,  and  ex¬ 
amination  of  deacons  in  certain  cases,”  contains  provisions 
which,  if  carefully  and  judiciously  administered,  may  be 
productive  of  most  beneficial  results  to  the  Southern  Dio¬ 
ceses.  The  canon  will  enable  the  Bishop,  with  the  concur¬ 
rence  of  the  Convention,  to  provide  in  many  cases  for  the 
religious  instruction  and  christianizing  of  the  slave  popula¬ 
tion.  This  was  the  thing  chiefly  contemplated  by  the  friends 
of  the  measure  when  it  was  brought  before  the  legislature  of 
the  church  ;  and  although  action  under  it  is  rendered  embar¬ 
rassing  by  many  restrictions  and  limitations,  as  will  always 
be  the  case  when  a  majority  is  legislating  for  a  people  whose 
condition  and  circumstances  they  do  not  understand,  still  the 
hope  is  fondly  cherished  that  much  good  will  come  of  it. 
There  are  pious  laymen  in  our  church,  owners  of  large  num¬ 
bers  of  slaves,  anxious,  more  so  than  tongue  can  express,  for 
their  religious  improvement,  who  will,  doubtless,  feel  it  in¬ 
cumbent  upon  them  to  take  upon  themselves  “this  office  and 
ministry,”  and  do  what  God  shall  enable  them  for  the  regen¬ 
eration  of  a  class  who  have  the  strongest  claims  upon  our 
sympathies  and  charity. 

In  conclusion,  I  shall  be  pardoned  for  adverting  to  a  mat¬ 
ter  which  is  of  some  consequence  to  myself  personally.  The 
Convention  held  at  Vicksburg,  year  before  last,  unanimously, 
I  believe,  voted  me  a  salary  as  Provisional  Bishop  of  Missis¬ 
sippi,  of  $1000  per  annum:  of  this  sum  I  received  in  the 
year  1843,  $267  89,  and  last  year  $484  50,  leaving  a  balance 

unpaid  of  $247  and  61  cents.  1  feel  assured  (hat  it  is  only 

C 


(18) 

Hiecessary  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Convention  to  the  fact 
as  stated,  to  ensure  its  prompt  adjustment. 

Beseeching  God  Almighty  to  have  you,  brethren,  in  his 
holy  keeping,  to  further  you  with  his  continual  help  in  all 
your  efiorts  for  the  extension  of  his  truth  through  the  instru¬ 
mentality  of  His  Holy  Church,  and  commending  you  to  that 
grace  which  is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  give  you 
an  inheritance  among  all  them  that  are  sanctified,  I  remain 
your  affectionate  friend  and  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

JAS*  H.  OTEY, 

Provisional  Bishop  of  Mississippi. 

Columbia,  Tenn.,  April  16,  1845. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  perceived  that  one  of  the  first 
duties  with  which  this  Convention  is  charged,  is  to  make  a 
proper  disposition  of  the  business  referred  to  it  by  resolutions 
of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  last  Gene¬ 
ral  Convention.  Whether  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  be  not  now 
the  Bishop  elect  of  Mississippi — whether  this  Convention  be 
not  empowered  to  express  its  sense  of  the  whole  matter  refer¬ 
red  to  it  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  by  con¬ 
firming  the  election  already  made,  and  sending  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hawks  to  the  standing  committee  and  Bishops  of  the  church 
as  the  Bishop  elect  of  this  Diocese — -or  whether  this  Conven¬ 
tion  be  authorized  to  enter  into  a  new  election — are  questions 
which  come  fairly,  if  not  necessarily,  before  you  for  consider¬ 
ation,  and  will,  I  doubt  not,  receive  from  you  the  attention 
which  their  grave  importance  demands.  That  you  may  feel 
free  from  all  embarrassment  in  acting  upon  the  subject  of  Dr. 
Hawks’  election,  as  made  by  the  Convention  of  1844,  I  will 
state  that  I  am  authorized  by  letter  from  him,  to  act  in  his 
name,  and  that  all  that  he  desires  is  to  have  justice  done  to 
his  character.  Under  these  circumstances,  then,  1  feel  em¬ 
powered  to  withdraw  the  name  of  Dr.  Hawks  from  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  this  Convention  as  a  candidate  for  the  Episco¬ 
pate,  and  ask  that  it  may  be  considered  as  withdrawn  from 
all  connection  with  the  subject,  except  so  far  as  it  may  be 


(19) 

deemed  necessary  to  do  justice  to  his  character,  and  place 
him,  so  far  as  dependent  on  our  action,  on  the  ground  occu¬ 
pied  by  him  antecedent  to  the  time  of  his  nomination  to  the 
Episcopate  of  Mississippi.  I  think  it  will  be  best  to  refer  the 
whole  subject  to  a  committee  to  report  thereon  for  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  Convention. 

I  have  to  repeat  here,  dear  brethren,  my  earnest  desire  that 
some  arrangement  be  made  by  you  for  the  more  efficient  dis¬ 
charge  of  Episcopal  duties  in  this  Diocese,  than  my  own  fee¬ 
ble  health  and  indispensable  engagements  to  my  own  Diocese 
will  allow.  The  field  for  exertion  which  is  spread  out  before 
you  is  exceedingly  interesting  and  inviting.  There  are  many 
neighborhoods  and  villages  where  the  labors  of  a  faithful  and 
efficient  clergyman  only  are  wanted  to  do  good  service  for 
the  cause  of  Christ,  and  to  lay  the  foundations  for  large  and 
respectable  congregations.  God’s  blessing  upon  efforts  judi¬ 
ciously  directed,  as  they  may  be,  and  to  the  right  points,  will 
soon  make  the  solitary  places  glad,  and  cause  the  desert  to 
rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  In  short,  I  do  not  know  a 
more  interesting  and  promising  field  for  the  labors  of  the 
spiritual  husbandman,  than  is  now  presented  in  the  Diocese 
of  Mississippi.  It  is  true,  that  the  prospect  is  not  so  clear 
and  bright  as  it  was  two  years  ago ;  but  the  adverse  circum¬ 
stances  which  have  tended  to  the  discouragement  of  our 
brethren  and  friends  in  some  parts  of  the  Diocese,  while  they 
call  for  the  exercise  of  more  faith  and  more  exertion  also  to 
meet  them,  may  by  these  means  be  controlled  and  turn  to 
blessings  in  the  end.  While  you  were  weak  and  feeble,  I 
most  willingly  did  all  in  my  power  to  nourish  and  strengthen 
you  as  a  Diocese.  You  are  now  able  to  take  care  of  your¬ 
selves.  You  can,  at  least,  obtain  the  oversight  of  others  who 
will  provide  for  your  wants  so  much  better  than  I  can  hope 
to  do,  that  I  respectfully  and  earnestly  request  that  the  act  of 
the  Convention  establishing  our  present  connection,  be  re¬ 
voked. 

The  lit  Rev.  Dr.  Freeman,  Missionary  Bishop,  who  visited 


(20) 

most  of  the  congregations  of  Mississippi  last  spring,  at  my 
request,  has  reported  to  me  the  following  official  acts  : 

At  Woodville,  he  baptized  one  adult  and  confirmed  two 
persons. 

At  Natchez,  he  confirmed  eight  persons,  in  'Frinity  church. 

At  Christ  church,  Jefferson  county,  he  confirmed  two  per> 
sons. 

At  Vicksburg,  he  confirmed' persons,  in  Christ  church. 

At  Jackson,  he  baptized  five  adults  and  confirmed  fifteen 
persons. 

On  all  these  occasions  the  Missionary  Bishop  preached, 
and,  1  understand,  with  great  acceptance  to  the  people. 

The  following  clerical  changes  have  taken  place  during 
the  year  that  is  now  past : 

The  Rev.  F.  W.  Boyd  has  resigned  the  Rectorship  of  Christ 
Qhurch,  Vicksburg,  and  been  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Pat¬ 
terson/ of  Tennessee. 

The  Rev.  C.  A.  Foster  has  been  dismissed  to  the  Diocese 
of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Rev.  D.  C.  Page  has  resigned  the  Rectorship  of  Trinity 
church,  Natchez,  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Rectorship  of 
Christ  church,  and  of  St.  Thomas’  Hall,  a  school  for  boys,  at 
Holly  Springs. 

The  Rev.  Willie  Peck  has  been  received  into  this  Diocese, 
on, letters  dimissory  from  Bishop  Potter,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
has  had  temporary  charge  of  Trinity  church,  Natchez. 

The  Rev.  Willard  Presbury  has  been  received  on  letters 
dimissory  from  Bishop  Smith,  of  Kentucky,  and  has  been 
officiating  for  several  months  past,  as  missionary  in  Washing¬ 
ton  county.  , 

The  Rev.  Amos  Cleaver,  upon  like  letters  from  the  same 
ecclesiastical  authority,  has  been  received,  and  has  been  offi¬ 
ciating  at  Jackson,  in  the  double  capacity  of  preacher  and 
teacher. 

The  Rev.  S.  Wall  still  resides  in  Louisiana. 

The  Rev.  N.  W.  Camp  has  resigned  the  charge  of  St.  An- 


(21) 

drew’s  chiircji,  Jackson,  and  accepted  a  call  to  a  newly  or¬ 
ganized  congregation  at  Yazoo  City. 

The  Rev.  J.  A.  Fox  has  removed  to  Louisiana. 

The  Rev.  J.  S.  Greene,  has  resigned  the  charge  of  the 
Church  of  the  Epiphany,  in  Claiborne  county,  and  removed 
to  Mississippi  City,  where  he  is  officiating  as  a  missionary. 

The  Rev.  A.  Matthews  has  been  appointed  missionary  in 
DeSoto  county,  and  has  organized  another  congregation,  for 
whose  accommodation  a  new  church  is  nearly  completed. 

On  the  26th  February,  of  this  present  year,  I  left  home  on 
a  visitation  of  the  churches  in  this  Diocese,  and  arrived  at 
Natchez,  by  the  way  of  the  river,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th 
of  March.  I  had  expected  to  be  at  Natchez  much  earlier, 
and  had  accordingly  appointed  Sunday,  the  8th,  for  the  or¬ 
dination  of  Wm.  M.  Giles,  a  candidate  for  orders.  In  conse¬ 
quence  of  unexpected  detention,  the  day  of  ordination  had 
to  be  postponed  to  the  15th.  On  that  day,  being  the  third 
Sunday  in  Lent,  I  admitted  Mr.  Wm.  M.  Giles  to  the  order 
of  Deacon,  he  having  sustained  a  very  satisfactory  examina¬ 
tion  upon  the  studies  prescribed  by  the  canons,  and  laid  be¬ 
fore  me  the  usual  testimonial  from  the  standing  committee. 
1  was  assisted  in  the  services  and  in  the  communion,  by  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Boyd,  Deacon  and  Peck,  and  preached  on  the 
occasion.  The  candidate  was  presented  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Deacon.  A  collection  was  made  at  the  same  lime  in  behalf 
of  missions,  amounting  to  $46  66. 

I  have  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Giles  missionary  to  Wash¬ 
ington,  with  permission  to  devote  one  half  of  his  time  to  St. 
Paul’s  church,  Woodville.  I  entertain  the  most  pleasing 
hopes  as. to  the  results  of  this  arrangement. 

Friday^  March  20th,  I  set  off  for  Woodville,  and  on  the 
next  day,  Saturday  21st,  after  prayers  by  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd,  I 
preached  to  a  small  congregation  at  half  past  3  o’clock. 

Sunday  22 — Morning  prayer  was  read  by  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd, 
ante-communion  and  sermon  by  myself,  after  which,  1  con¬ 
firmed  one  person — it  was  the  venerable  father  of  the  former 


(22) 

Rector  of  this  Parish,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crane,  who  thus  “  wit¬ 
nessed  a  good  confession  before  many  witnesses.”  In  the 
afternoon,  after  prayers,  I  again  preached. 

The  next  services  performed  by  me  in  this  Diocese,  were 
at  St.  Mary’s  church.  Laurel  Hill,  on  Good  Friday,  April  10, 
and  Saturday,  April  11.  On  both  of  these  days  1  preached, 
after  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Deacon.  On  Saturday  after¬ 
noon,  I  addressed  the  negroes  at  one  of  the  plantations  of 
Dr.  Mercer. 

12,  Easter  day —After  morning  prayers  by  Mr. 
Deacon,  I  preached,  confirmed  eight  persons,  in  Trinity 
church,  Natchez,  and,  assisted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Peck,  adminis¬ 
tered  the  holy  communion.  The  collection  made  on  this 
occasion  for  missions,  amounted  to  $23  95.  In  the  after¬ 
noon  1  again  preached,  after  prayers  by  Mr.  Peck. 

Monday  13 — Came  to  Washington,  where,  after  prayers 
by  Mr.  Giles,  in  the  College  Chapel,  I  preached  to  a  respec¬ 
table  congregation,  gathered  upon  the  short  notice  which 
could  be  circulated  of  our  wish  to  have  service. 

Tuesday  14 — Rev.  Mr.  Boyd  read  prayers,  when  I  preach¬ 
ed  and  confirmed  four  persons,  and  delivered  an  address  in 
explanation  of  that  ancient  and  apostolic  rite.  The  same 
day  I  came  to  Arundo,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Jos.  Dunbar. 

Wednesday  15 — After  prayers, preached  in  Christchurch, 
in  the  forenoon.  ‘ 

Thursday  16 — Early  this  morning,  I  rode  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Fish’s,  who  has  been  officiating  for  eighteen  months,  or  more, 
with  great  acceptance  to  the  congregation  of  Christ  church, 
Jefferson  county,  and  baptized  his  infant  daughter,  who  was 
too  feeble  to  be  taken  to  church.  After  this,  I  returned  to  the 
church,  preached  and  confirmed  four  persons.  The  same 
afternoon  I  was  kindly  brought  on  my  way  by  Mr.  Jas. 
Railey,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Port  Gibson. 

Friday  17— At  Port  Gibson,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  read 
prayers  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  I  preached  to  a  small 
congregation  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon,  I  baptized 


(23) 

one  colored  adult  and  her  three  children,  and  also  three  white 

» 

children:  At  night  I  preached  again,  and  confirmed  two 
persons.  The  same  night  I  rode  to  Dr.  Magruder’s,  three 
miles  in  the  country,  and  next  morning,  Saturday  18,  I  bap¬ 
tized  his  infant  son,  preached  to  the  negroes,  and  confirmed 
nine  of  them.  Returning  to  Port  Gibson,  I  baptized  a  child 
in  private,  and  then  setoff  #for  Talbot, about  fifteen  miles  dis¬ 
tant,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany. 
In  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  I  baptized  children,  and  at 
night  returned  to  Bowling  Green,  the  plantation  of  Mr.  Rai- 
ley,  who  very  kindly  provided  me  with  a  comfortable  con¬ 
veyance  through  the  whole  of  this  visitation.  My  best  thanks 
are  due  to  him  for  this  and  many  undeserved  favors. 

Sunday  19 — Baptized  this  morning,  at  Bowling  Green, 
two  infant  children,  then  proceeded  to  the  Church  of  the 
Epiphany,  which,  at  the  request  of  the  Vestry,  I  consecrated 
to  the  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God,  with  the  usual 
rites  and  solemnities,  and  according  to  the  order  of  the  Pro¬ 
testant  Episcopal  Church.  The  church  is  a  neat  framed 
building,  handsomely  finished,  with  a  parcel  of  land  attach¬ 
ed,  with  houses  for  the  minister  and  his  family,  all  secured 
by  deed  to  the  church.  I  am  assured  that  a  competent  sup¬ 
port  may  be  obtained  by  a  clergyman  willing  to  settle  here, 
and  devote  himself  faithfully  to  the  religious  instruction  of 
the  people.  On  this  occasion,  I  also  baptized  three  children, 
confirmed  four  persons,  preached,  and,  assisted  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Merrill,  administered  the  holy  communion  to  21  persons. 

Monday  20 — Accompanied  by  Dr.  Abercrombie  and  Mr. 
Railey,  in  his  coach,  I  came  to  Grand  Gulf,  a  distance  of  six¬ 
teen  miles,  this  morning,  and,  after  prayers  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mer¬ 
rill,  I  preached  to  a  small  congregation  in  the  room  which  has 
been  fitted  up  for  service  at  this  place. 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  I  went  aboard  of  a  steamboat 
and  proceeded  up  the  river  to  the  neighborhood  of  Lake 
Washington,  where  was  formerly  a  congregation,  under  the 
care  of  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Leacock.  On  Tuesday  21,  I  reached 


(24) 

the  residence  of  G.  G.  Skipwith,  eight  miles  from  Lake  Wash¬ 
ington,  and  immediately  dispatched  notices  in  different  direc¬ 
tions  for  service  on  the  morrow. 

Wednesday  22 — Baptized  early  this  morning,  the  infant 
son  of  G.  G.  Skipwith,  Esq.,  and  made  an  effort  to  reach  the 
place  of  public  worships  about  seven  and  a  half  miles  distant, 
but  was  forced  to  return  on  account  of  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather.  A  second  attempt  about  12  o’clock,  was  more  suc¬ 
cessful,  but  no  congregation  had  assembled.  I  rode  on  to  a 
neighbor’s  house,  Mr.  F.  J.  Turnbull,  where  the  same  even¬ 
ing  I  baptized  his  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  The 
next  day,  returning  to  Mr.  Skipwith’s,  I  baptized  the  infant 
son  of  Judge  Robert  Fitz. 

Sunday  26 — For  three  days  past,  I  had  anxiously  looked 
for  a  boat,  and  this  morning,  clear  and  bright,  found  me  still 
on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  Going  to  the  house  erected 
for  worship,  I  found  all  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  as¬ 
sembled,  for  whom  1  read  prayers  and  preached.  In  the  even¬ 
ing  of  the  same  day  a  boat  came,  which  I  boarded,  and  by 
which  I  reached  Vicksburg  early  on  Monday  27th.  Accom¬ 
panied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Patterson,  I  set  off  to  day  for  Yazoo 
City,  which  place  we  reached  by  boat,  Tuesday  28th.  At 
lOJ  o’clock;  A.  M.,  Mr.  Patterson  read  prayers,  performing 
the  like  services  at  4  and  at  7J,  p.  m.  On  each  of  these  oc¬ 
casions  I  preached.  The  zeal  and  liberality  of  the  small  body 
of  Episcopalians  at  Yazoo  City,  are  worthy  of  the  highest 
commendation.  They  have  hired  a  commodious  house, 
which  has  been  fitted  up  in  very  neat  and  church-like  style, 
for  worship.  Pews  have  been  made — a  chancel,  communion 
table,  reading  desk  and  pulpit,  tastily  arranged  and  cush¬ 
ioned,  where  needful  and  appropriate — an  organ  gallery 
raised,  and  in  it  a  fine  toned  organ  placed,  and  well  served  by 
the  Rector’s  wife,  who  is  assisted  by  a  small,  but  well  trained 
choir — the  floors  of  the  building  are  carpeted,  and  the  rear 
end  appropriated  as  a  vestry  room.  Every  thing  wears  an 
aspect  of  comfort  and  neatness,  and  1  trust  the  spiritual 


(25) 

character  of  the  congregation  will  be  in  accordance  with  the 
external  order,  beauty  and  propriety  of  their  house  of  wor^ 
ship. 

Wednesday  29 — Read  prayers,  and  Mr.  Patterson  preach¬ 
ed.  In  the  afternoon,  after  prayers  by  Mr.  P.,  I  baptized  two 
adults,  and  preached.  At  night,  Mr.  Camp  read  prayers, 
when  I  preached,  and  confirmed  Jive  persons.  Returning  to 
Vicksburg  on  Friday^  May  1st,  I  preached  in  Christ  church 
at  night,  after  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr*  Patterson.  On  this 
occasion,  a  society,  or  association,  was  formed  for  the  promo¬ 
tion  of  Christian  knowledge,  by  the  dtstribution  of  the  Biblej 
the  Prayer  Book,  Tracts,  and  the  like*  I  would  take  this 
opportunity  to  commend  the  objects  of  this  society  to  the 
favor  and  support,  not  only  of  the  members  of  this  congre¬ 
gation,  but  to  the  members  and  friends  of  our  church  through¬ 
out  the  State.  By  keeping  a  supply  of  Bibles,  Prayer  Books 
and  Tracts,  at  this  place,  all  other  points  in  the  State  may 
be  readily  and  amply  supplied.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  of 
Kentucky  was  present  on  the  occasion  above  mentioned, 
warmly  commended  the  plan,  and  made  some  interesting 
statements,  illustrating  the  value  of  the  Prayer  Book,  by  in¬ 
cidents  which  had  fallen  under  his  own  observation. 

Sunday  3 — Was  passed  at  Jackson.  The  Methodist 
church  had  been  courteously  offered  to  our  use  and  accepted. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cleaver  read  prayers  in  the  morning  and  after¬ 
noon,  on  both  of  which  occasions  I  preached,  to  large  con¬ 
gregations.  In  the  afternoon,  I  baptized  a  child. 

There  is,  at  present,  but  one  candidate  for  orders  in  this 
Diocese :  President  Thornton,  of  the  college  at  Jackson. 
There  are  four  other  applications  to  be  received  as  candidates, 
which  have  not  yet  been  acted  on  by  the  standing  committee. 

On  every  occasion  of  addressing  you,  brethren,  1  have,  I 
believe,  commended  to  your  liberal  support  the  missions  of 
the  church.  I  once  more,  and  probably  for  the  last  time,  re¬ 
peat  the  recommendation.  We  are  ourselves  in  circum¬ 
stances  calling  for  the  liberal  and  helping  hand  of  our  more 


(26) 

favored  brethren,  to  strengthen  and  support  us.  They  have 
not  been  indifferent  to  our  appeals  heretofore,  and  we  should, 
at  least,  manifest  dur  gratitude  so  far  as  to  show  that  we  are 
making  reasonable  exertions  to  help  ourselves.  And  let  me 
mention,  for  the  encouragement  of  every  one  to  whom  this 
communication  may  come,  that  I  have  had  placed  in  my 
hands,  within  a  few  weeks  past,  the  contributions  made  to  the 
mite  box  by  the  children  of  four  families,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Natchez,  amounting  to  $78  67J.  What  might  not  be  done 
for  the  cause  of  missions  in  Mississippi,  if  each  family  in  the 
Diocese  would  go  and  do  likewise  I  We  should  be  able  to 
double  the  number  of  our  missionaries,  and  to  send  the  light 
of  consolation  andjoy  to  many  a  dark  and  benighted  corner 
of  our  land,  without  ever  feeling,  in  the  slightest  degree,  that 
we  had  impoverished  or  straitened  ourselves. 

Dear  brethren  of  the  clergy :  I  beseech  you,  when  you  gc 
back  to  your  homes,  to  withhold  not  from  your  people  the 
necessary  light  to  inform  them  on  this  subject ;  deprive 
'  them  not  of  the  privilege — for  it  is  a  blessed  privilege — of 
giving  a  portion  of  the  bounty  with  which  God  has  loaded 
them,  to  promote  the  extension  of  Christ’s  Kingdom  on  earth. 

The  eighth  canon  of  the  General  Convention  of  1841,  re¬ 
quires  that  each  clergyman  shall  report  to  his  Bishop,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  every  Annual  Convention.  The  Rev. 
.  Messrs.  Boyd,  Page,  Patterson,  Peck,  Presbury  and  Mat¬ 
thews,  are  the  only  clergymen  in  the  Diocese  who  have  com¬ 
plied  with  this  provision. 

It  only  remains,  brethren,  that  I  commend  you,  in  your 
present  work,  and  in  all  your  future  life,  to  the  gracious  care 
and  guidance  of  our  Heavenly  Father. 

Your  faithful  friend  and  affectionate  pastor, 

JAS.  H.  OTEY. 

Vicksburg,  May  8,  1846. 

Mr.  Joseph  Dunbar,  from  the  standing  committee,  presentr 
ed  certain  documents  from  the  General  Convention,  relative 
to  the  case  of  Dr.  F.  L.  Hawks,  recommended  for  consecra- 


(27) 

tion  as  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi ;  which,  on  mo¬ 
tion,  were  referred  to  a  committee  consisting  oi  one  layman 
from  each  Parish  represented  in  this  Convention,  to-wit : 

Messrs.  Hughes,  Winchester,  Mercer,  Dunbar,  Prosser, 
Fontaine,  Ewing,  Grant,  Coffee  and  Lake.  The  Bishop  ap¬ 
pointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Halsey  chairman  of  said  committee. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a 
Secretary  and  Treasurer;  and,  on  counting  the  ballots,  it 
appeared  that  Charles  A.  Bradford,  of  Jackson,  was  duly 
elected,  who  appeared  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  hi.s 
office. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Deacon  read  the  report  of  the  standing 
committee. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  proceeded  to  the  election  of 
delegates  to  the  General  Convention  ;  when  it  appeared  that 
the  Rev.  W.  F.  Halsey,  the  Rev.  N.  W.  Camp,  the  Rev.  F. 
W.  Boyd,  and  the  Rev.  D.  H.  Deacon,  of  the  clergy,  and 
Messrs  Jos.  Dunbar,  Robt.  Hughes,  E.  FL  Stiles,  and  the  Flon. 
Edward  Turner,  of  the  laity,  were  elected. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned  to  o’clock,  and 
at  that  hour  resumed  its  session. 

It  was  then  moved  that  the  Convention  proceed  to  the  elec¬ 
tion  of  Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 
which  was  agreed  to.  And  the  vote  having  been  taken,  it 
appeared  that  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Page,  and  the  Rev.  S.  Patter¬ 
son,  were  duly  elected. 

On  motion,  the  Secretary  was  directed  to  have  five  hun¬ 
dred  copies  of  the  journal  of  this  Convention  printed,  to¬ 
gether  with  the  constitution  and  canons  of  the  Diocese,  and 
also  the  form  which  has  been  recommended  of  articles  of  as¬ 
sociation  for  the  organization  of  new  Parishes,  as  an  appendix 
to  the  same. 

The'Rev.  Mr.  Halsey,  from  the  committee  to  which  <vas 
referred  the  papers  from  the  General  Convention  in  the  case 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  reported  the  following  resolutions, 
for  the  adoption  of  the  Convention  : 


(28) 

Resolved^  That,  notwithstanding  the  .charges  preferred 
against  the  Rev.  F.  L.  Hawks  in  the  last  General  Convention, 
we  have  undiminished  confidence  m  his  integrity,  as  a  man, 
a  gentleman,  and  a  Christian. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  would,  if  necessary,  press  the 
claim  of  the  Rev.  F.  L.  Hawks  for  consecration,  in  pursuance 
of  his  election  at  a  former  Convention,  yet,  being  satisfied  that 
it  is  his  wish  that  those  claims  should  not  be  pressed,  we  for¬ 
bear,  and  receive  and  assent  to  the  withdrawal  of  those 
claims. 

The  resolutions  having  been  read,  a  motion  was  made  that 
they  be  adopted,  when  Mr.  Halsey  asked  leave  to  be  excused 
from  voting  on  the  question,  which  was  granted,  and  then 
the  resolutions  were  adopted. 

On  motion,  it  was  ordered,  that  the  documents  in  the  case 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Stand¬ 
ing  Committee,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Convention,  by  the  delegates  appointed  to  that  body. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  proceeded  to  the  election  of  the 
Standing  Committee ;  when  it  appeared  that  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Camp,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Patterson,  Geo.  S.  Yerger,  Esq.,  and 
William  C.  Smedes,  Esq.,  were  duly  elected. 

A  motion  was  then  made  for  the  appointment  of  a  com¬ 
mittee  to  consider  of  the  competency  of  the  Diocese  to  go 
into  the  election  of  a  Bishop,  which  was  agreed  to;  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Deacon,  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd,  Rev.  Mr.  Halsey,  Mr. 
Dunbar,  Mr.  Ewing,  and  Mr.  Yerger,  were  appointed  the 
committee. 

A  motion  was  made  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  take 
into  consideration  the  Bishop’s  salary.  Pending  the  motion, 
the  Bishop  retired  from  the  chair,  and  at  his  request,  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Smith,  of  Kentucky,  presided,  pro.  tern. 

The  motion  was  then  amended  so  as  to ‘require  the  com¬ 
mittee  to  assess  the  deficiency  in  said  salary  upon  the  several 
parishes  in  equitable  proportions  ;  and  so  amended,  it  was 


agreed  to,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Camp,  Mr.  Hughes,  and  Mr. 
Dunbar,  were  appointed  the  committee. 

On  motion,  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Deacon,  and  Mr.  Tappan,  to  audit  the  Treasurer’s 
report. 

'^rhe  Convention  then  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning, 
at  8  o’clock. 


Saturday,  May  9,  1846. 

The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Prayers 
were  read  by  the  Bishop.  The  minutes  of  yesterday  were 
read  and  approved. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved^  that  the  next  Annual  Conven¬ 
tion  meet  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  May,  1847,  at  the  City 
of  Jacksoq. 


Mr.  Camp,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  take  into  con¬ 
sideration  the  Bishop’s  salary,  made  the  following  report : 
That  there  is  due  the  Bishop,  on  account  of  his  salary 

for  the  year  1843,  -  -  .  -  ,  $247  61 

“  «  1844,  1.000  00 

“  «  1845, .  1,000  00 


Total,  -  -  -  $2,247  61 

We  have  assessed  the  churches  as  follows,  to  be  paid  each 
year  for  the  last  two  years,  except  Trinity  church,  Yazoo, 
which  is  for  the  current  year  : 

Trinity  church,  Natchez,  -  -  -  $300  00 

Christ’s  church,  Jefferson,  -  -  -  100  00 

St.  Paul’s  church,  Woodville,  -  -  120  00 

Christ’s  church.  Vicksburg,  -  -  -  150  00 

St.  Mary’s  church,  Laurel  Hill,  -  -  120  00 

St.  Paul’s  church,  Columbus,  -  -  -  50  00 

St.  Andrew’s  church,  Jackson,  -  -  100  00 

Christ’s  church,  Holly  Springs,  -  -  -  50  00 

Epiphany  church,  Claiborne,  -  -  25  00 

Tiinity  church,  Yazoo  City,  -  -  -  50  00 

St.  John’s  church,  Pontotoc,  .  -  -  20  00 

St.  Andrew’s  church,  Marshall  county,  -  25  00 

‘St,  Paul’s  church.  Grand  Gulf,  -  -  30  00 


$1,140  00 


(30) 

Resolved^  That  the  churches  in  connection  with  the  Con¬ 
vention,  be  requested,  forthwith,  to  pay  the  sums  due  on  the 
above  assessment  to  the  Provisional  Bishop  ;  and  where  such 
payments  are  not  made  at  the  present  Convention^  that  the 
Secretary  furnish  each  church  which  has  not  paid,  with  the 
above  assessment. 

The  report  and  resolutions  were  read  and  adopted. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved^  That  the  Secretary  distribute 
the  journal  of  this  Convention,  after  the  same  shall  have  been 
printed,  in  the  following  manner,  to-wit :  to  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Otey  ten  copies,  to  each  lay  delegate  to  this  Conven¬ 
tion  two  copies,  to  each  clergyman  or  rector  of  this  Diocese 
ten  copies  ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  printed  copies  to  be  dis¬ 
tributed  as  the  Secretary  may  deem  best  for  the  interest  of 
the  church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Deacon,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  audit 
the  accounts  of  the  Treasurer,  reported,  that  they  were  una¬ 
ble  to  come  to  any  satisfactory  adjustment  of  the  same,  for 
want  of  the  vouchers  of  the  late  Treasurer. 

Whereupon,  on  motion,  resolved^  That  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  this  Convention,  be  requested  to  settle  the  ac¬ 
count  of  the  late  Treasurer,  and  report  thereon  to  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  this  Convention. 

Mr.  Deacon,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  consider  of 
the  competency  of  the  Convention  to  elect  a  Bishop,  report, 
ed,  that  this  Convention  has  no  power,  canonically,  to  elect  a 
Bishop  ;  which  was  agreed  to. 

Rev.  Mr.  Deacon,  from  the  committee  appointed  to  consi¬ 
der  of  amendments  to  the  constitution  and  canons  of  the 
Diocese,  reported  the  following  proposed  amendments  : 

1st.  Strike  out* the  proviso  to  the  3d  article  of  the  con¬ 
stitution. 

2d.  Amend  the  7th  article,  and  make  a  business  quorum 
to  consist  of  not  less  than  three  clergymen,  and  lay  delegates 
from  three  parishes. 

3d  canon  proposed:  Any  Parish  constituted  especially  for 


(31) 

sihe  benefit  of  slaves,  and  having  a  rector,  shall  be  entitled  to 
a  lay  representation,  on  nomination  by  the  rector  and  contirrm 
ed  by  the  Bishop. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  till  3 J  o’clock  ;  at  which 
hour,  it  resumed  its  session. 

On  motion,  the  vote  fixing  the  time  of  meeting  of  the  next 
Convention,  was  re-considered,  and  the  4th  Wednesday  in 
January,  1847,  was  agreed  to  as  the  time  for  its  meeting. 

The  Convention  then  took  up  the  report  of  the  committee 
on  amendments  to  the  constitution  and  canons ;  and  the  ques¬ 
tion  being  upon  agreeing  to  the  first  amendment  proposed, 
the  yeas  and  nays  were  called  for,  and  it  was  decided  in  the 
negative,  as  follows : 

Those  who  voted  in  the  affirmative  are,  Messrs.  Prosser, 
Lake,  and  Edward  Turner,  of  the  laity — 3. 

Those  who  voted  in  the  negative  are,  Rev.  Mr.  Camp,  Rev. 
Mr.  Halsey,  Rev.  Mr.  Patterson,  Rev.  Mr.  Presbury,  Rev.  Mr. 
Boyd,  of  the  clergy ;  and  Messrs.  Crane,  Tappan,  Yerger, 
Geo.  W.  Turner,  Stiles,  McCaleb,  Hughes,  Palmer,  Ewing, 
Fontaine,  Grant,  Bridwell  and  Clayton — 18, 

On  motion,  the  Convention  took  up  for  consideration,  the 
amendment  proposed  to  the  constitution  by  Mr.  Crane,  in  the 
Convention  of  1844,  (Journal  of  Conv.  p.  9)  in  the  following 
words:  ‘‘Strike  out  so  much  of  the  7th  article  thereof  as 
requires  a  majority  of  parishes  to  be  represented  in  Conven¬ 
tion  in  order  to  form  a  quorum;”  and  the  amendment  was 
agreed  to. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  was  submitted  to 
the  Convention : 

Whereas  the  Rt.  Rev.  James  H.  Otey,  Bishop  of  the  Dio¬ 
cese  of  Tennessee,  and  Provisional  Bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi,  in  his  late 
address  to  this  Convention,  has  expressed  a  wish  that  the  re¬ 
lation  heretofore  existing  between  him  as  Provisional  Bishop 
of  this  Diocese,  be  revoked,  therefore. 

Resolved^  That  this  relation,  expressed  in  the  foregoing 


prearnUej  be,  and  is  hereby  revoked,  from  and  after  such 
time  as  Bishop  Otey  shall  sig-nify  a  termination  of  his  oiEciai 
duties  on  his  present  visitation. 

On  motion,  the  further  consideration  of  the  resolution  was 
postponed  till  the  next  meeting  of  the  Convention  in  January 
next. 

On  mo\X(Jv\,  resolved,  That  the  committee  appointed  at  the 
Convention  of  1844.  to  procure  from  the  Legislature  of  this 
Btate  an  act  of  incorporation  of  a  society  for  the  support  of 
the  widows  arid  orphans  of  destitute  clergymen,  deceased,  be 
continued  till  next  Convention. 

On  motion,  resolved.  That  a  committee,  to  consist  of  Geo. 
S.  Yerger,  W.  C.  Srnedes,  Jrio.  T.  McMurran,  A.  M.  Feltus, 
Jos.  Dunbar,  M.  W.  Ewing,  P.  M.  Grant,  J.  W.  J.  Yiles,  W. 
Goodman,  D.  Minor,  and  J.  Railey,  be  appointed  to  raise  by 
subscription,  or  otherwise,  a  sum  adequate  to  the  support  of 
the  Provisional  Bishop  of  this  Diocese,  and  that  they  report 
to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Convention,  and  that  the  Secretary 
l)e  directed  to  notify  each  member  of  the  committee  of  his 
appointment. 

On  motion,  resolved,  7'hat  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
be  directed  to  pay  immediately  to  Thos.  Palmer,  the  balance 
due  on  his  bill  for  printing  the  journal  of  the  last  Convention. 

''i'he  following  resolution  was  submitted  : 

iiesolved,  "J'hat  the  Bishop  of  this  Diocese  be  reciuested  to 
act  under,  and  appoint  deacons,  by  virtue  of  canon  vi,  of  the 
canons  of  the  General  Convention  of  1844,  entitled,  Of  a 
discretion  to  be  allowed  in  the  calling,  trial,  and  examination 
of  deacons,  in  certain  cases.” 

A  motion  was  then  made  to  postpone  the  further  consider¬ 
ation  of  the  resolution  till  the  next  Convention;  and  after 
considerable  debate,  liev.  Mr.  Boyd  demanded  that  the  ques¬ 
tion  he  taken  by  orders,  and  it  being  so  taken,  the  motion  was 
determined  in  the  negative,  as  follows  : 

f>f  Ihcclergy  :  Yeas— Rev. Mr. Halsey,  Kev.  Mr.  Boyd  -2. 


(33) 

Nays — Rev.  Mr.  Camp,  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill,  Rev.  Mr.  Patter¬ 
son,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Presbury — 4. 

Of  the  laity:  Yeas — St.  PauPs  church,  Columbus — 1. 

Nays — St.  Paul’s  church,  Woodville;  Christ’s  church, 
Vicksburg ;  Trinity  church,  Natchez  ;  Church  of  the  Epiph¬ 
any,  McCaleb’s;  St.  Andrew’s  church,  Jackson;  Trinity* 
church,  Yazoo ;  St.  John’s  church,  Pontotoc ;  St.  Paul’s 
church,  Grand  Gulf;  Christ’s  church,  Jefferson  county — 9. 

The  question  recurred  on  the  adoption  of  the  motion, 
which  prevailed. 

The  following  resolution  was  submitted  : 

Resolved j  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  tendered 
to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Otey,  for  the  dignity,  impartiality,  and 
Christian  courtesy,  with  which  he  has  presided  over  the  de¬ 
liberations  of  this  body. 

And  the  question  being  put  by  the  Secretary,  it  was  adopted 
unanimously. 

The  following  resolution  was  submitted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  are  justly 
due,  and  are  hereby  tendered,  to  the  citizens  of  Vicksburg 
and  its  vicinity,  for  the  kind  and  generous  hospitality  ex¬ 
tended  by  them  to  the  members  of  this  body,  during  its  pre¬ 
sent  session,  and  that  they  are  particularly  due  and  tendered, 
to  Mr.  John  Thatcher,  of  the  Thatcher  House,”  for  his  liber¬ 
ality  in  refusing  to  receive  any  compensation  from  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Convention  who  have  lodged  at  that  house  ;  and 
that  the  Secretary  be  requested  to  furnish  a  copy  of  this  reso¬ 
lution  for  publication  in  the  newspapers  of  this  city,  and  also 
to  Mr.  John  Thatcher. 

Which  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

And  then,  on  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned  sine  die, 

C.  A.  BRADFORD,  Secretary. 


E 


(34) 

I>AItOCHIAI<  HSX>0»TS-r0a  1846. 

ST,  MARY’S  CHURCH,  Laurel  Hill. 

The  Rector  of  l&t.  Mary’s  Church,  Laurel  Hill,  has  continued  through 
the  past  year,  his  u.sual  routine  ol  services.  He  has  performed  Divine 
Service  for  the  white  people  of  the  neighborhood,  every  Sunday  morning^ 
except  during^a  part  of  the  winter.  To  the  colored  people  of  Dr,  Mercer’s 
plantations,  who  constitute  his  principal  charge,  he  has  ministered  regularly 
every  Sunday,  and  to  them  the  accompanying  statistics  refer. 

Marriages,  -  .  -  -  4 

Baptisms,  (infants,)  -  -  14 

Funerals,  _  -  .  .  9 

He  has  reason  to  believe  that  his  labors  have  not  been  altogether  in  vain, 

the  slaves  continuing  to  take  an  unabated  interest  in  the  services,  and  de¬ 

cided  religious  impressions  are  occasionally  found  to  have  been  made.  He 
regards  himself,  however,  as  employed  in  sowing  the  seed  of  a  future  har¬ 
vest,  more  than  in  gathering  the  ripened  fruit.  Still  it  has  been  his  privilege, 
under  the  Divine  blessing,  10  seesome^  so  far  as  he  is  able  to  judge,  brought 
to  that  knowledge  “  of  God  and  of  Je.-sus  Christ,  whom  be  has  sent,  which 
is  life  eternal.”  D.  H.  DEACON, 

Rector  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Laurel  Hill. 

To  the  Rt.  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman. 

May  6th,  1845. 

CHRIST  CHURCH,  Holly  Spring3. 

To  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi : 

Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir— I  beg  leave  to  report  to  you,  that  since  the  last 
Convention,  I  resigned  the  charge  of  Christ  Church,  Holly  Springs,  but 
have  since  occasionally  officiated  and  preached.  The  Parish  is  now  va¬ 
cant,  but  rather  than  the  church  should  be  closed,  I  officiate  every  Sunday, 
and  on  the  first  Sunday  of  every  month,  I  administer  the  Lord’s  Supper. 

Holly  Springs,  28th  April,  1845.  C.  A.  FOSTER. 

CHURCH  OF  THE  EPIPHANY,  Claiborne  Co. 

The  Rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany,  reports  to  the  Bishop,  that 
nothing  important  has  occurred  in  this  Parish  during  the  last  year — that 
the  services  of  the  church  were  duly  performed,  with  the  exception  of  three 
or  four  month’s  interruption,  occasioned  by  sickness,  which  prevailed  gene¬ 
rally  through  the  county ;  and  with  which,  the  Rector  and  his  family  were 
most  painfully  visited ;  and  that,  for  their  safety  and  his  own,  he  went  to  a 
neighboring  county,  where  having  remained  until  the  season  became  more 
healthy,  he  returned  and  resumed  his  duties  in  this  church,  which,  he 
hopes,  have  been  faithfully  discharged,  unle.ss  when  the  badness  of  the 
weather,  or  the  delicacy  of  his  health,  interfered. 

The  regular  number  of  communicants  in  this  church  are  10,  and  the 
sacrament  duly  administered  on  the  first  Sunday  in  the  month,  except  when 


(35) 

any  accident  prevents.  Our  Sunday  School  is  in  operation,  and  doing 
well. 

Deaths  in  this  Parish  the  last  year  were  six,  three  of  whom  were  children  ; 
and  of  the  three  adults,  one  was  a  communicant,  and  the  others  occasional 
members  of  the  congregation.  Marriages  and  baptisms,  none. 


CHRIST  CHURCH,  Vicksburg. 

The  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Vicksburg,  respectfully  reports  from  the 
register  of  his  Parish,  the  following  : 

Families  and  pewholders  last  report,  .  .  -  .  .  89 

Changes,  unknown. 

Baptized — Adults,  white,  -  -  -  3 

Infants,  white,  -  -  -  35 — Total,  -  -  38 

Confirmed— Former  number,  -  -  -  51 

Added,  -  -  -  -  8-Total,  -  -  59 

Communicants — Former  number,  -  75  (mistake  of  2)  73 

Added,  -  -  -  -  21 

Died,  -  -  -  1 

Removed,  -  -  -  13 

Withdrawn,  -  -  3— Total,  -  -  77 

Funerals — Parishioners,  -  -  -  11 

Others,  .  .  -  .  i — Total,  -  -  12 

Marriages — White,  -  -  -  -  4 

Colored,  -  -  -  .  0— Total,  -  -  4 

Catechumens, . 25 

Sunday  School — (No  change  reported.) 

Church  offerings  at  the  Holy  Eucharist,  .  _  _  -  ^50  19 

Incidental  expenses, .  28  37 

Domestic  missions,  42  00 

Si  20  56 


While  the  Rector  of  Christ  Church  would  record,  with  grateful  emo¬ 
tions,  any  degree  of  success  which  the  blessings  of  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church  has  accorded  to  his  labors,  yet  he  is  pained  to  reflect  that  so  little 
has  been  done.  His  comparative  inefiSciency,  is  attributable  to  his  neces¬ 
sary  absence  from  his  Parish  the  last  summer,  in  attendance  upon  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Convention,  and  his  own  ill  health  since  January  last.  He  knows  of 
no  reason  why  his  Parish  should  not  increase,  and  be  vigorous  and  as  pros¬ 
perous  as  any  in  the  South-west,  if  it  be  diligently  cultivated.  The  small 
debt  reported  to  the  last  Convention,  is  resting  yet  upon  the  Parish,  and  still 
cripples  its  energies. 


ST.  JOHN’S  PARISH,  De  Soto  Couvtv. 

The  Rector  of  St.  John’s  Parish,  De  Soto  county.  Miss.,  Reports,  that 
during  the  last  summer  his  services  were  chiefly  confined  to  his  own  house 
and  the  neighborhood  where  his  present  Parish  is  now  organized.  SInc« 


(36) 

his  return  from  the  General  Convention  last  fall,  he  procured  the  use  of  the 
Methodist  meeting  house  in  Hernando,  every  second  Sunday.  For  some 
time  back,  he  has  divided  his  time  between  that  point  and  the  Parish  of  St. 
John’s.  The  Parish  of  St.  John’s  has  been  recently  organized,  and  pre^ 
sents  a  favorable  prospect.  Since  its  organization,  he  has  baptized  three 
adults,  and  hopes  shortly  to  baptize  several  others.  Admitted  to  the  Holy 
Communion  for  the  first  time,  one. 

The  Church  may  be  said  to  be  fairly  established  in  that  neighborhood. 
A  neat  chapel  is  about  to  be  erected  by  a  few  of  the  members  of  that  Parish, 
during  the  ensuing  summer. 

The  prospects  at  Hernando,  hitherto  gloomy,  begin  to  brighten.  We 
hope  shortly  to  get  possession  of  our  own  little  church  at  that  place.  So 
soon  as  that  is  etfected,  the  Rector  designs  re-organizing  that  Parish.  We 
humbly  trust  that  a  brighter  day  is  not  far  ahead.  The  recent  interest  man¬ 
ifested  in  the  Parish  of  St.John’s,  has  very  much  cheered  the  heart  of  its 
Rector. 

Baptisms — Adults,  3  ;  infants,  5  ;  Funerals,  2. 

May  5ih,  1845.  ANDREW  MATTHEWS,  Rector. 

ST.  ANDREW’S  CPIURCH,  City  op  Jackson. 

The  Rector  of  St.  Andrew’s  Church,  respectfully  submits  the  following 
report  to  the  Bishop,  viz: 

Present  number  of  baptized  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 


in  the  Parish,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  -  -  -  156 

Present  number  of  confirmed  members, . 72 

“  “  communicants, . 52 

“  “  families  in  attendance,  -  -  -  .  35 

“  single  individuals, . 30 

Number  of  adults  baptized  since  last  report,  17 

-  “  “  children,  “  “  “  29— Total,  46 

Number  of  persons  confirmed  since  last  report,  -  -  -  -  19 

“  “  communicants  added  «  ^  -  32 

Number  of  communicants'left  the  Parish  since  last  report,  -  -  1 

“  “  familiesadded  since  last  report,  -  '  -  -  -  5 

“  “  marriages  since  last  report,  -  ,  -  ,  _  2 

“  “  burials— Adults  2,  children  4,  ,  ,  .  -  6 

The  Holy  Eucharist  has  been  celebrated  (times)  _  ,  _  8 

Ofterings — For  domestic  missions,  -  S29  35 

“  communion  furniture,  13  95 
“  current  expenses,  -  12  40— Total,  S55  70 


The  Rector  has  officiated  every  Lord’s  Day  in  the  Parish,  excepting 
once  in  New  Orleans,  once  in  a  steamboat  between  Natchez  and  New  Or¬ 
leans,  once  at  Natchez,  and  six  times  at  Vicksburg,  last  summer,  during 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd’s  absence. 

City  of  Jackson,  May  5, 1845,  N,  W.  CAMP,  Rector. 


I 


(37) 

PORT  GIBSON  IMISSION,  Claiborne  Coontt. 

Rev.  A.  P.  Merrill,  Missionary,  Port  Gibson,  re.spectfully  reports,  that  he 
organized  a  congregation  of  colored  people,  on  the  plantation  of  Dr, 
McGruder,  near  this  place,  in  January,  1844,  since  which  time,  he  has  reg¬ 
ularly  performed  missionary  duty  among  them,  preaching  the  Gospel,  visit¬ 
ing  the  sick,  and  burying  the  dead,  with  the  exception  of  a  temporary  ab¬ 
sence  at  the  North.  The  present  condition  of  the  Parish  is  as  follows,  viz: 


Congregation,  .  . . 50  to  150 

Communicants,  . 7 

Baptisms  performed— Infants  51,  Adults  4,  ...  -  55 

Funerals, . --13 


There  has  been  no  Episcopal  visitation  since  the  Parish  was  organized, 
and  consequently,  no  confirmations,  though  several  are  wailing  to  be  con¬ 
firmed. 

The  Missionary  has  had  urgent  and  repeated  solicitations,  to  officiate  in 
the  adjacent  Parishes  of  Port  Gibson  and  Grand  Gulf,  which  have  been 
destitute  of  ministerial  services  the  past  year.  These  requests,  he  regrets 
to  say,  that,  consistently  with  other  duties,  he  has  been  able  to  comply  with 
only  to  a  limited  extent. 

As  the  Missionary  has  hitherto  realized  no  part  of  his  support  (with  the 
exception  of  a  present  from  one  individual)  from  his  ministerial  labors,  he 
has  been  compelled  to  adopt  the  self-supporting  s)^slem  ;  and  has  devoted 
himself  to  his  school,  the  income  of  which  has  enabled  him  to  meet  current 
expenses.  Should  this,  which  has  thus  far  been  his  only  dependence,  fail, 
he  would  be  obliged  to  abandon  the  field.  The  prospects  of  his  Seminary 
for  Young  Ladies,  are  encouraging,  and  are  such  as  to  inspire  the  friends 
of  education  and  the  church,  with  confidence  in  its  success.  If  he  can  be 
sustained  in  this  enterprise  by  our  own  church,  in  addition  to  the  support  he 
at  present  receives  from  other  quarters,  he  believes  it  practicable  to  build 
up  an  institution  of  learning  in  Port  Gibson,  which  shall  be  an  ornament  to 
the  church  and  the  State  of  Mississippi. 

May  5tb,  1845.  A.  P.  MERRILL. 


FAROOHIAI*  SIEPOB.TS— roa.  18*3=5. 

CHRIST’S  CHURCH,  Churcu  Hir.,L,  Jefferson  County, 

To  the  Rt.  Rev.  Jas.  H.  Otey,  D.  D.,  Prov.  Bishop  of  Mississippi : 

The  undersigned  would  report  that,  since  entering  upon  the  discharge  of 
his  duties,  (in  Nov.  1844,)  in  the  Parish  of  Christ’s  Church,  Church  Hill, 
Jeflerson  county,  he  has  officiated  constantly,  and  with  gratifying  evidences 
of  the  Divine  blessing  upon  his  labors.  During  this  period,  the  church 
edifice  has  been  repaired,  the  pews  repainted,  the  aisle  and  chancel  carpeted. 
An  instrument  of  music  has  been  furnished  to  aid  in  the  services,  while 
this  part  of  our  worship  has  been  greatly  improved  by  the  introduction  of 
chanting.  The  number  in  attendance  upon  the  Sunday  exercises,  has  very 


(38) 

considerably  increased;  while  a  spirit  of  inquiry  as  to  the  claims  of  the 
Gospel  and  the  church,  upon  the  belief  and  the  aftections,  is  manifest  in  the 
case  of  some  who  have  hitherto  “  cared  not  for  these  things.”  It  is  hero 
noted,  with  thankfulness,  that  while  faction  and  discord  have  been  abroad 
in  the  church,  endeavoring  to  unsettle  the  faith  of  its  members,  and  to 
alienate  from  each  other  those  who  have  been  made  one  in  Christ  Jesus, 
this  Parish  has  been,  by  God’s  blessing,  free  from  agitation,  its  members 
content  with  the  church  as  she  is,  loving  those  sober  and  sufficient  services, 
pursuing  tho.se  old  and  Catholic  paths  which  have  been  hefs  from  the  be¬ 
ginning. 

The  following  services  have  been  performed. 

Baptisms,  36 — 11  whites  and  25  blacks. 

Marriages,  9—6  white  couple  and  3  black. 

Burials,  5—4  whites  and  1  slave. 

Confirmed,  6—4  whites  and  2  slaves. 

There  have  been  seven  added  to  the  communion,  the  present  number  of 
which  is  35.  There  are,  at  present,  connected  with  the  Parish,  35  families. 

J.  F.  FISH,  Officiating  at  Christ  Church,  . 
May  12,  1846.  Church  Hill. 

ST.  ANDREW’S  CHURCH,  City  op  Jackson. 

This  report  will  embrace  a  period  of  time  extending  from  May  12lh,  A. 
D.  1845,  to  February  l.?r,  A.  D.  1846,  when  the  Rector  accepted  a  call  to 
Trinity  Church,  Yazoo  City,  Miss. 

Baptisms — Children,  -  -..-.---3 

Marriages, . 4 

Burials,  .  5 

Collections  at  the  communion,  including  a  collection  at  the  meeting  of 

a  few  delegates  and  clergy,  in  May,  1845,  -  -  -  ^76  84 

Of  which,  for  domestic  missions,  were,  -  -  -  -  18  22 

And  the  remainder,  S58  62,  were  appropriated  to  meet  current  expenses. 

Communicants,  about . 60 

The  resignation  of  the  Rector  was  accepted  by  the  Wardens  and  Vestry 
of  St.  Andrew’s  Church,  in  May,  1846.  Since  the  Rector  removed  to  his 
present  Parish,  the  Rev.  Amos  Cleaver  has  continued  to  preach  for  St.  An¬ 
drew’s  Church;  and  it  is  understood  that  a  suitable  lot  of  ground  has  been 
purchased,  and  hopes  are  entertained  that  a  church  will  be  erected  before 
the  coming  winter.  NORMAN  W.  CAMP, 

Rector  of  St.  Andrew’s  Church. 

MISSION  IN  WASHINGTON  Co. 

Willard  Presbury,  Missionary  in  Washington  county  and  vicinity,  res¬ 
pectfully  submits  to  the  Bishop,  the  following  report: 

I  became  a  resident  of  this  part  of  the  Diocese  in  December,  1844,  since 
which  time,  my  labors  in  the  ministry  have  been  mostly  confined  to  about 
fifty  negroes  upon  a  plantation.  These,  with  few  exceptions,  when  sick* 


m 


(39) 

ness  or  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  prevented,  have  been  regularly  as¬ 
sembled  on  Sunday,  for  religious  instruction  and  the  services  of  our  church. 
Though  there  is  still  much  room  for  improvement,  yet  a  manifest  change 
has  been  produced  in  their  moral  character.  During  the  last  three  months, 
there  has  been  a  considerable  degree  of  seriousness  among  them,  and  seve¬ 
ral,.  I  trust,  have  become  truly  pious.  Occasionally,  I  have  visted  a  small 
neighborhood,  25  miles  distant.  Here,  our  services  have  been  well  appre¬ 
ciated,  and  several  have,  apparently,  become  the  true  disciples  of  Christ. 

In  October  last,  I  visted  Yazoo  City,  and  held  the  first  public  service  of 
our  church  in  the  place.  By  the  blessing  of  God  upon  my  labors  here,  in 
a  few  week.s,  a  Parish  was  organized,  a  building  rented  and  neatly  fitted  up 
and  furnished  for  public  worship,  and  the  Parish  now  enjoys  the  regular 


ministrations  of  a  Rector. 

Baptisms — White  adults  3,  infants  2,  -  .  -  -  .  4 

Colored  adults  9,  infants  19, . 28 

Admitted  to  communion — whites, . 3 

Candidates  for  confirmation — White  5,  colored  14,  -  -  -  19 

Marriage.s, . 1 

Funerals— White  1,  my  own  dear  child ;  colored  2,  ,  .  .  3 

/ 


TRINITY  CHURCH,  Natchez, 

In  the  month  of  December  last,  the  undersigned,  moving  southwardly, 
landed  at  Natchez,  where  he  temporarily  officiates  in  Trinity  Church. 
His  ministrations  have  been,  morning  and  afternoon  service  on  Sundays  ; 
also,  morning  prayers  on  Wednesdays  and  Fridays. 


Marriages,  - . 3 

Baptisms — Adults  4,  infants  10, . 14 

Burials, . 4 

Communicants,  added,  - . 10 

Present  number,  about  . 85 


On  the  12tb  ult.,  the  Rl.  Rev.  Dr,  Otey  confirmed  eight  worthy  members,, 
and  others  are  now  waiting  to  receive  that  Apostolic  rite.  The  Sunday 
School  consists  of  five  teachers,  and  about  fifty  pupils.  In  Natchez,  as  in 
every  other  place,  the  Lord  is  ready  to  work  gloriously  among  those  who 
act  worthily.  PECK. 

May  4ih,  1846. 

ST.  JOHN’S  PARISH,  De  Soto  County. 

The  Missionary  at  St.  John’s  Parish,  De  Soto  county,  Miss.,  and  officia¬ 
ting  at  Hernando,  states  to  his  Bishop,  (Otey,)  as  follows,  viz : 

Since  his  Iasi  report,  he  continues  his  services  regularly  at  the  above 
places.  Administered  the  communion  twice  in  St.  John’s  Parish.  A  neat 
little  frame  church,  with  Gothic  windows,  and  of  a  sufficient  size  for  the 
congregation,  will  be  in  readiness  for  worship  on  Easter  Sunday.  This, 
though  on  a  small  scale,  is  matter  of  rejoicing.  A  very  few  years  ago,  the 
families  who  have  erected  this  comfortable  little  building,  knew  nothing  of 


(40) 

our  church,  or  its  heaven  inspired  services.  Thank  God,  we  have  in  the 
rvilderness,  (though,  as  yet,  on  a  small  scale,)  a  church  and  a  people. 

There  are  in  St.  John’s  Parish,  six,  or  more,  candidates  for  confirmation, 
and  our  little  church  ready  for  consecration.  A  debt  of  $250  stills  hangs 
over  the  church  at  Hernando.  The-Missionary  knows  not  how  to  raise  it. 
Respectfully,  &c.,  ANDREW  MATTHEWS,  Mis.^^’y. 

April  1st,  1846. 

WASHINGTON  MISSION,  Adams  County. 

The  Missionary  at  Washington,  Miss.,  reports  to  the  Bishop,  that^  since 
his  ordination  on  the  15th  of  March,  last/lie  has 

Read  prayers,  14  times. 

Preached  on  Sundays,  at  Washington,  and  at  other  places,  9  “ 

Lectured  on  the  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  of  the  latter  part 
of  Lent,  - 

Solemnized  marriages,  (servants,) . 2 

And  that  four  persons  were  confirmed  by  the  Bishop  at  his  recent  visit." 

He  further  reports,  that  he  has  accepted  a  temporary  call  to  St.  Paul’s 
church,  Woodville ;  and  expects  that,  if  the  Lord  permit,  he  will  officiate 
at  Washington  and  Woodville,  on  alternate  Sundays. 

All  of  which,  is  respectfully  presented,  by  WM.  M.  GILES. 

May  9, 1846. 

CHRIST’S  CHURCH,  Holly  Springs. 

t 

The  Rector  would  respectfully  report  to  the  Bishop,  that  in  September 
last  he  removed  from  Natchez,  and  became  Principal  of  St.  Thomas’  Hall 
and  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Holly  Springs;  and  that  since  that  time  he 
has  been  engaged  in  teaching  and  in  the  duties  of  his  ministry.  His  offi¬ 
cial  acts  for  the  half  year  during  which  he  has  had  charge  of  the  Parish, 


have  been — 

Baptisms,  -  --  --  --  --  i 

Marriages,  -  --  --  --  --  2 

Burials,  - 


Present  number  of  communicants,  -  -  -  -  24 

During  Lent,  he  had  prayers  every  Wednesday  evening  and  a  sermon, 
his  duties  at  St.  Thomas’  Hall  not  allowing  him  to  officiate  during  the  day. 
During  Passion  week,  there  were  daily  services  ;  as  also  on  the  Monday 
and  Tuesday  of  Easter  week. 

On  Saturday,  the  18th  of  April,  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Gavan,  he 
officiated  for  the  congregation  of  St.  Andrew’s  Church,  Marshall  county; 
and  the  following  day,  at  the  residence  of  D.  Minor,  Esq.,  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  on  which  occasion  he  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

A  neat  church  edifice  is  in  the  course  of  erection  by  this  Parish,  and 
such  arrangements  will  shortly  be  made,  it  is  trusted,  as  will  secure  to  them 
the  regular  services  of  a  minister.  DAVID  C.  PAGE. 

P .  S.  The  number  of  communicants,  as  reported  to  the  Convention  of 


1844,  was  51 ;  since  which  period,  25  out  oi’  that  number  have  removed, 
and  two  are  no  more,  leaving  the  present  number  24;  one,  however,  was 
added  at  Easter,  so  that,  to  account  for  the  difference  between  the  present 
and  former  number,  28  persons  must  have  been  removed,  by  death  or 
otherwise.  D.  C,  P. 


CHRIST’S  CHURCtI  ,  Vicksburg. 

The  Rector  of  Christ’s  Church,  Vicksburg,  reports  to  the  Bishop,  the 
following  statement,  taken  from  the  Parish  register  : 

Families  connected  with  the  church)  -  -  -  -  80 

Baptized — Adults,  white  5,  children  and  infants  16,  2l 

Communicants, . 75 

Funerals, . 3 

Marriages,  white, . 3 

Sunday  School — Teachers, . 15 

Scholars,  ......  lOO 

This  statement  dates  from  September,  1845,  at  which  time  the  present 
Rector  took  charge  of  the  Parish.  Through  the  commendable  zeal  and 
energy  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation,  $1,000  of  the  church  debt  have 
been  paid.  Arrangements  have  been  made,  on  the  part  of  the  Vestry,  for 
the  liquidation  of  the  balance.  The  Sunday  School  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  and  promises  to  become  an  efficient  instrument  in  increasing  the 
church.  A  society  has  also  been  formed,  consisting  of  both  sexes,  and 
called  the  Vicksburg  and  Warren  county  Prayer  Book  and  Tract  Society. 
Its  object  is  to  distribute  church  tracts  and  the  Prayer  Book,  as  a  tract, 
among  such  persons  as  are  desirious  of  being  informed  respecting  our 
church,  or  stand  in  need  of  her  instruction.  The  Parish,  under  the  Divine 
blessing,  prospers,  and  shows  a  praiseworthy  spirit  in  advancing  the  inter¬ 
ests  of  the  Redeemer’s  Kingdom.  S.  PATTERSON,  Rector. 


The  Rev.  F.  W.  Boyd,  respectfully  reports  to  the  Bishop,  that  he  resigned 
the  charge  of  Christ  Church,  Vicksburg,  in  July  last,  and  since  that  lime, 
has  had  no  cure.  His  otflcial  acts,  since  his  last  report,  are  all  recorded  in 
the  Parish  register  of  Christ  Church,  Vicksburg,  up  to  the  period  of  his 
resignation.  Since  that  lime,  he  has  been  attending,  mainly,  to  the  restor¬ 
ation  of  his  health.  He  has,  however,  constantly  officiated,  publicly  or 
privately,  as  opportunity  has  offered,  on  each  Sunday. 

The  only  official  acts,  called  for  by  the  canon  in  this  report,  which  he  has 
to  record,  are — 

Baptisms— Infants,  white, . 2 

Marriages,  . ^ 

He  would  beg  leave  to  report  to  his  Bishop,  that  he  is  now  ready,  and  de¬ 


sirous  for  service,  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability. 

All  of  which,  is  respectfully  submitted,  F.  W.  BOYD. 

To  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  H.  Otey,  D.  D.,  Prov.  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Miss. 


Vicksburg,  May  8,  1846, 


F 


ST.  PAUL’S  CHURCH,  Columbus, 

The  Rector  of  St.  Paul’s  Church,  respectfully  reports  to  the  Bishop,  the 


following  account  of  his  labors  for  the  last  two  years; 

Baptisms — AJulis  3,  children  17,  colored  children  G,  2G 

Marriages, . 2 

Funerals — whites  9,  colored  persons  6,  ...  if, 

Present  number  of  communicants,  ...  -  50 

Alms  collected  since  May,  1844,  -  .  -  .  $90  73 

Collections  for  Dome.stic  Missions,  ...  G5  00 
For  the  support  of  the  Episcopate,  -  -  -  50  00 

For  Conventional  assessment,  -  -  -  -  10  00 

For  Sunday  School  Library,  ....  22  00 


Since  the  last  Convention,  something  like  three  hundred  dollars  have 
been  raised  and  expended  in  repairs  upon  our  church,  which  renders  it 
now  much  more  comfortable,  as  a  house  of  public  worship.  Our  Sunday 
School  is  not  large,  but  the  scholars  and  teachers  are  punctual  in  their  at¬ 
tendance.  We  have,  also,  a  promising  bible  cla.ss.  Since  our  last  Con¬ 
vention,  this  church  has  suffered  much  by  removals  from  the  place.  It  is 
owing  to  this,  that  the  present  number  of  communicants  is  not  orealer  than 
formerly  reported.  But  we  are  not  discouraged, — we  have  the  promise  of 
the  Divine  blessing  upon  the  faithful  observance  of  the  means  of  grace. 
Here  is  our  hope  and  trust  in  nil  our  labors  to  save  souls  and  build  up  the 
Redeemer’s  Kingdom.  W.  F.  HALSEY,  Rector. 


TRINITY  CHURCPl,  Yazoo  City. 

Families,  (comprising  adults  120,  children  30,  total  150,)  about  50  or  60 

Baptisms — Adults  3,  children  6, . 9 

Confirmed, . 5 

Communicants,  about . 25 

Catechumens— Boys  6,  girls  6, . 12 

Contributions — Alms  at  the  Holy  Communion,  (two  collections,)  $5  00 
For  other  purposes, . $2,500  00 

Total,  . $2,505  00 


Public  services,  regular,  19,  including  Ash  Wednesday  and  Good  Friday. 

Four  administrations  of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

Remarks. —This  Parish  was  organized  in  October  last,  (1845,)  by  the 
Rev.  Willard  Presbury,  who  kindly  consented  to  take  charge  of  it  until  a 
Rector  should  be  called.  Late  in  January  last,  1  was  requested  to  visit  the 
Parish,  and  early  in  February,  was  called  to  the  Rectorship  of  it,  which 
was  accepted,  and  in  a  few  days  I  moved  my  family  to  Yazoo  City.  I  found 
a  church  very  conveniently  arranged  for  the  comfort  of  the  congregation, 
together  with  all  those  other  conveniences  which  bespeak  a  love  of  decency 
and  order,  so  desirable  in  all  churches.  To  Col.  Joseph  J.  W.  Niles,  our 
present  active  Senior  Warden,  are  we  mainly  indebted,  under  God,  for  the 
church  accommodation  in  Yazoo  City  we  now  enjoy,  and  whose  untiring, 


(43) 

nnrcmiliing  and  ^ell-denying  labors,  have  secured  Ihein  to  us.  Trinity 
Church  is  supplied  with  a  bell,  organ,  chandelier,  and  ground-glass  globe 
lamps  Ibr  the  reading  desk,  pulpit  and  choir.  It  is  carpeted  throughout, 
with  many  of  the  seats  cushioned,  and  has  a  commodious  Vestry  room  in 
the  rear.  Trinity  Church  will  contain  about  200  persons,  and  our  ordinary 
congregations  number  about  150.  The  late  visitation  of  Bishop  Otey,  ac¬ 
companied  by  the  Rev,  Mr.  Patterson,  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  religious  ser¬ 
vices  performed  by  them,  will  form  an  epoch,  not  only  in  the  history  of  our 
infant  Parish,  but  also  in  the  annals  of  our  town,  it  being  the  first  visitation 
of  a  Protestant  Bishop, 

There  were  seven  or  eight  candidates  for  confirmation,  five  of  whom 
were  confirmed  at  the  Bishop’s  visitation,  and  the  others,  it  is  expected,  will 
be  confirmed  during  the  session  of  the  Convention. 

N.  W.  CAMP,  Rector. 

ST.  JOHN’S  CHURCH,  Pout  Gibson., 


Families, . 6 

Baptized  persons — Adults  10,  infants  6,  -  -  -  -  16 

Communicants, . 10 

Funerals, . 1 

Marriages, . ‘2 

Confirmations, . 


ST.  PAUL’S  CHURCH,  Grand  Gulf. 

Families,  ------ 

Baptized  persons— Adults  7,  infants  13, 

Communicants,  ----- 

Marriages,  .  .  -  .  - 

Funerals, 

CHURCH  OF  THE  EPIPHANY,  M‘ Caleb  Settlement. 

Families, . 

Baptized  persons— Adults  12.  infants  6, 

Communicants, . 

Funerals, . 

Confirmations, . 

AFRICAN  CHURCH,  near  Port  Gibson. 
Baptized  persons— Adults  10,  infants  10,  -  -  - 

Communicants, . 

Confirmations, . 

Fort  Gib>on,  May  1st,  1816.  A  P.  MERRILL, 


10 

18 

12 

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TiiK  Treasurer  of  the  Concention  of  the  Diuccsc  of  Mississippi 

in  account  until  the  Convention. 


1814. 


Dr. 


SIO  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00- 


-S60  00 
Cr. 


May  1.  To  cash  received  by  the  delegates  from  the  follow¬ 
ing  churches,  iri  payment  of  the  annual  assess¬ 
ment  for  the  year  1843,  viz  : 

From  St.  Mark’s,  Raymond, 

“  St.  Andrew’s,  Jackson, 

“  Christ  Church,  Holly  Springs, 

“  St.  Andrew’s,  Marshall  county, 

“  St.  Paul’s,  Columbus,  .  -  .  - 

“  Epiphany,  Claiborne  county, 

1844- Mav  4. 

By  arn’t  of  ass’t  for  1843,  on  Trinity  Church,  Natchez, 

“  Christ  Church,  Jefierson, 

for  ’42  and  ’43,  on  Christ  ch.,  Vicksburg, 

“  “  St.  Mary’s,  Laurel  Hill, 

1843,  on  St.  Paul’s,  Woodville, 

1842,*  on  St.  Paul’s,  Columbus, 

1845 —  May  8. 

B  y  ain’t  of  ass’t  for  1844,  on  Trinity  ch.,  Natchez, 

Christ  ch.,  Jefierson, 

Christ  ch.,  Vicksburg, 

St.  Mary’s,  Laurel  Hill, 

St.  Paul’s,  Woodville, 

St.  Paul’s,  Columbus, 

St.  Paul’s,  Grand  Gulf, 

St.  John’s,  Pontotoc  county, 

St.  Andrew’s,  Marshall  county,  10  00 

Christ  ch..  Holly  Springs,  10  00 

St.  Andrew’s,  Jackson,  10  00 

St.  Mark’s,  Raymond,  10  (M) 

Epiphany,  Claiborne  county,  10  00 — 130  00 


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20  00 
10  00 

10  00— S80  00 

10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 


Balance  due  the  Treasurer  on  the  8th  of  May,  1845,  $210  00 

The  journal  of  1844,  was  printed  by  the  publishers  of  the  “  Southron” 
newspaper,  at  the  City  of  Jackson,  for  which  they  charged  $‘120.  The 
Treasurer  paid  them  $60,  collected  by  him,  as  appears  on  the  debit  side  of 
his  account  for  1844,  and  forwarded  his  account  and  the  voucher  for  the 
above  payment,  to  the  President  of  the  Convention,  expected  to  convene  at 
Jackson,  in  the  month  of  May  last.  The  account  and  voucher,  owing  to 
the  failure  of  that  Convention,  have  been  lost  or  mfscarried,  but  the  books 
of  Buckner  &  Stanton,  New  Orleans,  will  exhibit  the  payment  of  my  draft 
for  the  $60,  in  favor  of  the“  Southron”  office.  The  balance  of  the  printer’s 
bill  of  $120,  remains  unpaid,  say  $60,  with  interest. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted.  JAS.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Treasurer  of  the  Convention. 

*Note. — The  arrears  of  1812,  ctiarj^ed  above  to  (Jolumhus,  are  due  as  stated..  Rev 
Mr.  Halsey  informed  tlic  undersigned,  tliat  the  Vc.stry  of  St.  Paul’s  i)rovided  the  money 
to  meet  tlieir  assessment  for  that  vear,  and  he  supposed  it  liad  lieen  transmitted,  hut 
no  delegates  attended  tliat  year  from  Columbus,  and  the  money,  if  sent  by  rhem,  was 
never  received  by  the 'Preasurer.  '  *  J.  3.  J. 


A  1*  r  E  N  D  I  X  , 

COMPRISING  THE 

CONSTITUTION  AND  CANONS 

OP’  THE 

DIOCESE  OF  MISSISSIPPI, 

AND 

ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION 

1"0R  THE 

FORMATION  OF  PARISHES. 


CONSTITUTION. 

Article  1.  The  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi,  as  a. 
constituent  part  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  accedes  to  the  general  constitution  of  that 
Church,  and  acknowledges  its  authority. 

Art.  2.  There  shall  be  a  stated  Convention  of  the  Church  in 
this  Diocese  every  yearj  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be  fixed  on 
by  the  preceding  Convention.  Special  meetings  of  the  Conven¬ 
tion  shall  be  called  by  the  Bishop,  when  in  his  judgment  the  good 
of  the  Church  require  it,  or  when  the  standing  committee  shall 
request  it ;  and  in  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  Episcopate,  the  stand¬ 
ing  committee,  on  urgent  reasons,  may  call  a  Special  Convention. 

Art.  3.  The  Convention  shall  be  composed  of  clergymen  and 
laymen.  Every  clergyman  of  the  Church,  of  whatever  order, 
having  been  a  settled  or  regularly  officiating  minister  in  some  Pa¬ 
rish  within  this  Diocese,  for  the  space  of  six  calendar  months 
next  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  Convention ;  or  a  president, 
professor,  tutor  or  instructor,  in  some  college  or  seminary  of  learn¬ 
ing,  and  performing  clerical  functions  for  the  same  period ;  or  a 
missionary  under  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  this  Diocese, 
within  this  State,  for  the  same  period,  and  who,  for  the  same  space 
of  time,  has  been  employed  in  performing  the  duties  of  his  sta¬ 
tion,  shall  have  a  seat  and  vote  in  the  Convention  :  Provided.^ 
however^  that  no  clergyman  otherwise  entitled  to  a  scat  and  vote 
m  the  Convention,  shall,  by  reason  of  advanced  years,  or  infirm 
healih,  or  temporary  absence,  be  divested  of  such  pnviFge 


(46) 

Every  PaiEh  within  this  Diocese,  in  union  \\  itli  this  Convention, 
shall  be  entitled  to  send  to  the  Convention  a  lay  delegate  or  dele¬ 
gates,  not  exceeding  three,  a  certificate  of  whose  appointment, 
signed  by  a  warden  or  the  secretary  of  the  vestry  of  the  Parish, 
shall,  before  their  admission  to  seats,  be  laid  before  the  Conven¬ 
tion  :  Provided^  that  no  person  shall  be  competent  to  serve  as  a 
lay  delegate,  unless  he  be'a  stated  worshipper  in  the  Parish  which 
he  represents. 

The  delegation  from  each  Parish  shall  be  entitled,  on  a  division, 
to  but  one  vote. 

Art.  4.  New  Parishes  may  be  admitted  into  union  with  this 
Convention,  on  motion,  by  a  majority  of  votes :  Provided,  they 
shall  have  laid  before  the  Convention  written  evidence,  subscribed 
by  the  wardens  and  vestry,  that  they  are  duly  organized,  and  ac¬ 
cede  to  the  constitution  and  canons  of  this  Church. 

Art.  5.  The  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  shall  be  the  President  of 
the  Convention  ;  but  during  a  vacancy  in  the  Episcopate,  or  ab¬ 
sence  of  the  Bishop,  the  members  shall  elect  a  President  from 
among  the  presbyters. 

Art.  6.  A  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer  shall  be  chosen  upon  the 
assembling  of  the  Annual  Convention,  from  among  the  members 
thereof,  wdio  shall  remain  in  office  until  the  meeting  of  the  next 
Annual  Convention. 

Art.  7.  The  members  of  the  Convention,  present  on  due  noti¬ 
fication,  and  consisting  of  not  less  than  three  clergymen,  and  lay 
delegates  from  three  parishes,  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  transact 
the  regular  business  of  the  Convention.  The  clergy  and  lay  del¬ 
egates  shall  deliberate  as  one  body,  and  vote  as  such,  except  when 
a  division  is  called  for,  in  which  case  a  concurrence  of  both  orders 
shall  be  necessary  to  carry  any  measure.  All  elections  shall  be 
bv  ballot. 

Art.  8.  This  constitution  shall  not  be  subject  to  alteration  in 
any  article,  except  at  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Convention  ;  nor 
unless  such  alteration  shall  have  been  proposed  at  least  one  annual 
meeting  previous  to  its  adoption 


CANON  I. 


OF  THE  ADMISSION  OF  CHURCHES. 

Sec.  1.  Whenevor  any  number  of  persons  shall  associate  to 
form  an  Episcopal  congregation,  they  shall  adopt  articles  of  asso¬ 
ciation  for  their  government,  in  which  they  shall  acknowledge  and 
accede  to  the  constitution,  canons,  doctrine,  discipline  and  worship 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  and  the 
constitution  and  canons  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese 
of  Mississippi ;  they  shall  assume  a  suitable  name  by  which  their 
Church  or  Parish  shall  be  designated,  and  appoint  not  less  than 
three  nor  more  than  eleven  vestrymen  and  two  wardens.  A  cer¬ 
tified  copy  of  the  articles  of  association,  and  of  the  proceedings  at 
their  adoption,  shall  then  be  laid  before  the  Convention,  and  if 
approved  by  that  body,  delegates  from  that  congregation  or  Pa¬ 
rish,  may  take  seats  in  the  Convention  ;  and  the  congregation 
shall  be  considered  as  united  to  the  Convention,  and  subject  to  its 
decisions. 

Sec.  2.  Every  Parish  so  organized  shall  annually,  on  Easter 
Monday,  or  as  soon  afterwards  as  may  be,  elect  the  same  number 
of  vestrymen,  who  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be  upon  their  election, 
assemble  and  appoint  two  wardens,  a  register  and  treasurer. 

•  Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Rector,  agreeably  to  the  an¬ 
cient  usage  of  the  Church,  to  preside  in  all  parish  and  vestry 
meetings,  but  in  case  of  his  absence,  one  of  the  w'ardens  shall 
preside. 

CANON  II. 

In  compliance  with  the  fourth  canon  of  the  General  Conven¬ 
tion,  a  standing  committee,  comprising  an  equal  number  of  pres¬ 
byters  and  laymen,  shall  be  elected  at  each  Annual  Convention. 
Any  vacancy  occurring  in  this  committee  may  be  filled  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  remaining  members.  They  shall  keep 
full  minutes  of  their  proceedings,  which  shall  be  laid  on  the  table 
of  each  Annual  Convention,  and  read  therein. 

CANON  III. 

OF  THE  TRIAL  OF  CLERGYMEN. 

Sec.  1.  The  trial  of  a  clergyman  of  this  Diocese  shall  be  oir 
prrsentment  made  to  the  Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  to  the 


(48) 

staiullng  committee,  in  writing,  signed  by  the.  party  making  it  ; 
and  every  presentment  of  a  clergyman  shall  be  eitlier  by  the  Con¬ 
vention  of  the  Diocese,  by  the  vestry  and  church-wardens  of  the 
Parish  to  which  such  clergymen  may  belong,  or  by  one  or  more 
presbyters  of  the  Church. 

Sec.  2.  In  all  cases  of  presentment,  contemplated  by  the  con¬ 
stitution  and  canons  of  the  General  Convention,  or  by  those  of 
this  Diocese,  a  copy  of  the  charge  or  charges  and  specifications, 
together  with  a  citation  to  appear  and  answer,  shall  be  served  upon 
the  party  accused,  in  the  manner  hereinafter  provided,  with  all 
convenient  speed. 

Sec.  3.  The  regular  place  of  trial,  and  the  office  for  the  record 
of  all  ecclesiastical  proceedings,  shall  be  the  house  of  the  Bishop  ; 
but  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  the  standing  committee  shall  appoint  the 
place  for  these  purposes  ;  and  the  Bishop,  by  and  with  the  con¬ 
currence  of  his  council  of  advice,  may  appoint  any  place  within 
his  Diocese  for  the  trial,  if  there  be  any  special  reasons  moving 
him  thereto. 

Sec.  4.  All  testimony  adduced  upon  the  trial  shall  be  in  wri¬ 
ting,  taken  on  due  notice  to  the  parties,  either  by  a  commissary 
appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  ecclesiastical  authority,  or  in  the 
manner  of  commissions  or  depositions  in  civil  cases.  But  this 
provision  shall  not  prevent  the  appearance  of  witnesses,  and  the 
hearing  of  their  testimony  on  the  trial,  whenever  it  shall  be  pre¬ 
ferred  by  either  party. 

Sec.  5.  Advocates  or  proctors  shall  be  allowed  on  both  sides, 
at  the  pleasure  of  the  parties,  provided  they  are  clergymen,  can¬ 
onically  resident  in  the  Diocese,  or  laymen  who  have  been  com¬ 
municants  of  some  Parish  of  the  same,  at  least  two  years  before 
the  trial. 

Sec.  6.  The  Bishop  shall  preside  upon  the  trial  as  judge,  and 
not  less  than  three  presbyters  shall  be  assessors  with  him,  the 
names  of  which  presbyters  shall  be  selected  by  the  party  accused 
out  of  a  list  of  six,  who.  shall  be  unconnected  by  relationship  or 
marriage,  and  can  declare  that  they  have  not  expressed  an  opinion 
as  to  his  guilt  or  innocence.  But  if  there  be  not  so  many  pres¬ 
byters  in  the  Diocese,  then  the  standing  committee  shall  fill  up 


said  list  with  the  names  of  all  the  presbyters  therein  ;  and  if  the 
accused  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  make  his  selection,  the  standing 
committee  shall  elect  for  him.  On  the  verdict  of  a  majority  of 
these  assessors,  the  Bishop  may  rest  his  judgment  in  the  case  *,  or, 
in  case  of  conviction,  may,  if  he  think  proper,  order  a  new  trial, 
and  the  sentence  which  he  pronounces  shall  be  delivered  and  re¬ 
corded  before  the  rising  of  the  court :  Provided  always^  neverthe-’ 
less,  that  if  the  Bishop  be  related  to  the  accused,  or  if  he  be  a 
party  concerned,  he  may,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
standing  committee,  request  some  neighboring  Bishop  to  preside 
upon  the  trial.  And  if  the  Diocese  be  vacant,  the  standing  com¬ 
mittee  shall  request  the  services  of  such  Bishop  as  they  may  find 
most  convenient. 

Sec.  7.  All  citations  and  notices  in  any  ecclesiastical  proceed¬ 
ing,  whether  to  parties  or  witnesses,  may  be  served  either  person¬ 
ally  or  by  leaving  a  copy  thereof  at  their  residences  respectively  ; 
the  time  between  the  day  of  service  and  the  day  of  appearance 
being  not  less  than  twenty  days  over  and  above  the  ordinary  time 
required  to  travel  to  the  place  of  appearance.  And  in  case  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  a  minister  against  whom  any  ecclesiasti¬ 
cal  proceedings  have  been  instituted,  has  departed  from  the  United 
States,  or  that  the  place  of  his  sojourn  cannot  be  conveniently 
ascertained,  then  it  shall  be  sufficient  to  have  a  copy  of  the  cita¬ 
tion  published  three  times  in  some  newspaper  printed  at  the  seat 
of  government  of  the  State  in  which  he  last  resided,  and  also 
three  times  in  some  newspaper  printed  at  the  seat  of  government 
of  the  State  in  which  he  is  cited  to  appear,  at  least  six  months 
before  the  day  of  appearance. 

Sec.  8.  The  Bishop  may  be  presented  for  trial,  for  any  alledged 
misconduct,  by  the  Convention,  the  vote  of  two  thirds  of  each 
order,  clerical  and  lay,  being  necessary  for  the  same  ;  and  when¬ 
ever  the  Convention  shall  decide  that  the  Bishop  be  presented,  a 
copy  of  the  charges  and  specifications  shall  be  delivered  to  him, 
(together  with  the  names  of  six  Bishops  of  this  Church,)  and  it 
the  Bishop  shall  fail  to  notify  his  election- of  the  three  by  whom 
he  will  be  tried,  within  sixty  days,  then  the  standing  committee 
may  select  any  three  of  said  Bishops,  who,  when  so  elected,  shall 
retrulate  the  time  and  place  and  mode  of  trial. 

o  *  /  ^ 


Sec.  9.  In  all  cases  of  presentment,  whether  of  Bishops  or  other 
ministers,  w  here  the  party  accused  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  ap¬ 
pear,  sentence  of  suspension  shall  be  passed  for  contumacy  ;  which 
sentence  shall  continue  in  force  until  the  party  consents  to  a  reg¬ 
ular  trial. 

CANON  IV. 

It  shall  be  the  business  of  the  standing  committee,  when  in¬ 
formed  by  the  vestry  of  either  of  the  Churches  in  this  Diocese, 
that  such  Church  is  not  provided  with  a  minister,  (in  which  in¬ 
formation,  the  means  which  the  Church  has  for  supporting  a  min¬ 
istry  shall  be  stated,)  diligently  to  inquire  for  and  recommend  to 
the  vestry  giving  such  information  a  proper  person  to  officiate  in 
the  said  Church,  and  they  shall  report  to  the  Convention,  at  each 
annual  meeting,  what  information  of  vacancies  they  have  received, 
and  their  proceedings  thereon. 

CANON  V.  ' 

In  the  election  of  a  Bishop,  the  clergy  and  laity  and  shall  vote 
separately,  (the  clergy  individually,  and  the  laity  by  congregation,) 
and  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  each  order  shall  be  necessary 
to  constitute  a  decision. 

CANON  VI. 

OF  DELEGATES  TO  THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION. 

The  Convention  at  each  annual  meeting  shall  choose  delegates 
to  attend  the  General  Convention;  and  should  the  delegation 
elected  to  represent  this  Diocese  in  General  Convention  be  unable 
to  attend,  then  the  standing  committee  shall  have  pow'er  to  ap¬ 
point  a  delegate,  or  delegates,  in  behalf  of  this  Diocese. 

CANON  VII. 

In  order  to  procure  that  full  and  accurate  view  of  the  state  of 
the  Church,  which  is  required  by  canon  xxix,  of  1832,  and  canon 
VII,  of  1835,  of  the  General  Convention,  every  Parish  minister  in 
this  Diocese  shall  conform  his  register  to  the  following  form,  and 
report  to  each  Annual  Convention  on  all  the  particulars  thereof : 

FORM  OF  PAROCHIAL  REPORTS. 

Date.  The  Rector  (or  minister)  of —  Church,  at  —  county,  re¬ 
ports  to  the  Bishop  (or  Convention)  of  the  Diocese,  the  follow¬ 
ing  statement  from  the  register  of  his  Parish  : 


( '>1 ) 


FainUirs—FovinQY  number  ; 

Added  the  past  year  ;  Total, 
persons — Adults,  former  number  ; 

Added  (white  ;  colored  ; 

Children,  former  number  ; 

Added  (white  ;  colored  ; 

Total,  adults  and  children, 

Bdpiistns  performed  the  past  year — Adults,  (white  ;  colored  ; 

Children,  (white  ;  colored  ; 
Confirmed,  persons — Former  number  ; 

Added  the  past  year  (white  ;  colored  ;)  of 
whom  were  confirmed  in  this  Parish  by  the 
Bishop  of  .  Total  (or  present  number  ) 
Communicants — Former  number  ; 

Added  the  past  year  (wdiite  ;  colored  ; 

Died  ;  removed  ;  suspended  ; 

Withdrawn  ;  present  number  ; 

Marriages — (White  ;  colored  ;) 

Funerals — Parishioners  ;  others  ;  Total, 

Catechumens—  , 

Bible  Classes — Numbers  attending  ; 

S.  S.  Teachers — Male  ;  female  ;  Total, 

Scholars. — Male  ;  female  ;  Total, 

“  Books— 

Church  offerings — At  the  Lord’s  Supper,  $  ,  appropriated  to 

For  missions  and  education  to  the  ministry;  $ 
Contributions — For  parochial  plans  (specifying  each)  $  •  lo 

general  institutions,  such  as  Domestic  and  b  oreign 
Missionary  Societies,  &c.  $ 

To  other  objects,  (specifying  them,) 

To  contingent  fund  of  Convention  for  year,  $ 

State  also  what  has  been  done  under  canon  xxviii,  Geneial 
Convention^  and  generally  “any  other  matters  of  fact  which  show 
the  state  of  the  Parish.” 

CANON  Vlll. 


FRO  VJ  TUNG  FOR  CONTINGENT  EXPENSES  OF 

Sec.  1  'J'he  vestry  of  every  Parish  or 


the  convention. 
congregation  in  this 


Dioces'e  shall  pay  to  the  Treasurer  oi'  tlie  vent  ion,  at  (‘ach 
annual  meeting  thereof,  a  sum  not  less  than  ten  dollars,  to  meet 
the  contingent  expenses  of  the  Convention.  And  the  Treasurer 
shall  regularly  charge  the  said  sum  on  his  books  against  each 
vestry,  crediting  the  same  with  payments  when  made,  and  .shall 
annually  report  to  the  Convention  the  state  of  his  accounts  against 
tiach  Parish,  which  report  shall  be  entered  on  the  journals  of  each 
Convention. 

Sec.  2.  The  Treasurer  shall,  at  least  one  month  previously  to 
the  meeting  of  every  stated  Convention,  call  upon  such  vestry  to 
send  the  above  amount,  including  arrearages,  if  there  he  any,  by 
the  hands  of  the  delegates  to  the  Convention. 

CANON  IX. 

Any  Parish  in  this  Diocese  which  has  omitted,  or  shall  neglect 
or  refuse  to  send  a  delegjition  or  a  report  to  the  Convention,  for 
two  successive  years,  may  be  considered  extinct,  until  it  shall  re¬ 
establish  its  connexion  by  a  new  application  to  the  Convention. 


FORM  FOR  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  NEW  PARISHES. 

We  the  subscribers  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a 

parish  of  t^^e  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  town  of - , 

county  of - ,  and  State  of  Mississippi,  after  due  notice  given, 

do  hereby  agree  to  form  a  Parish  to  be  known  by  the  name  of - 

t'hurch - ;  and  as  such  do  hereby  acknowledge  and  accede  to 

the  doctrine,  discipline  and  worship,  the  Constitution  and  Canons 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Ame¬ 
rica,  and  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the  same  Church  in  the 

Diocese  of  Mississippi ;  and  we  do  accordingly  now  appoint - 

(  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  eleven  persons,  naming  them, ) 

to  be  the  first  vestry  of - Church  ;  and - [two  persons, 

naming  them]  to  be  the  first  wardens,  to  continue  in  office  until 

Caster  Monday,  A.  D. - -,  and  until  others  be  chosen  in  their 

place :  And  an  election  of  vestrymen  shall  hereafter  be  held  on 
Caster  Monday  of  each  successive  year,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as 
may  be. 

Witness  our  hands  at - County  of - and  State  of  Alissis- 

sippi,  lhl.s - day  of - in  the  year  of  our  Lord - . 


